Steering rack horseshoe bracket - nut broke loose (1 Viewer)

[tone33]

My daughter and I bought a sweet '97 3rd gen from a local buddy and we are trying to get the steering rack off to get the A-Arms off to put new bushings in. It seems that the backside bolt on the lower horseshoe bracket nut broke free from inside the frame. First, I assume this nut is not supposed to be spinning.... Second, any ideas on how i can fix? I'm not a welder, but have access to folks who do weld, is there enough space to get in there and fix? The nut itself is also pushed pretty far up into the bracket, so I'll probably have to cut it out anyway, which is fine, but the bigger concern is the nut on the back side.

Below are some pics and here's a decent video. New video by Tone Southerland - https://photos.app.goo.gl/EDFo3rnjrFCsr3Ka7

 

[tone33]

Here's a better view from the outside.. A friend suggested a hole saw and make an access to the back side of the nut. Any thoughts on where to cut this?

I could try cutting out some of the red square here, just enough to access the nut on the inside, but that's the gusset for the steering rack bracket, so don't want to weaken it..

If I try to make a hole through the green circle then I'm into the cross-member, which maybe that's fine... and the better option.

 

[gnob]

cut the bracket, weld the nut. weld cap back over hole

 

[tone33]

I ground out the bottom plate, cut the bolt off. I'll have a nut welded back in, or maybe just leave unwelded (for now). I think all the structural support is horizontal.

 

[tone33]

Found a good writeup on it over on another forum..

Stud broke off frame-- steering rack bolt