Subframe removal problems - bolts spinning, odd metal plate (steering rack repair)

[w.overlord]

Hi,

I'm hoping I could get a little help from the knowledgeable folks on this forum. I have a Berlingo 1.6 Multispace HDi manufactured in 2011 that unfortunately has a broken steering rack after only ~85000 KM. Not too uncommon as far as I understand, but still a PITA.

In order to change the steering rack, I understand I will need to drop the subframe a bit. However, some of the 4 bolts holding the front subframe to the chassis are now spinning. Citroen seems to have made an odd design choice where the bolts going through the subframe to the chassis are attached to a small square metal plate (this metal plate/sheet is acting as captive nut). However, there's no way to hold this metal plate as the access room is tiny and it's also hard to get anything to grip on a tiny metal sheet/plate. Cutting in the subframe and the chassis isn't legal under my countries laws.

A few questions:
1. Does anyone have experience with this problem? Preferably a solution that includes pictures
2. Is there a way to access the metal sheet holding the spinning bolt from the floor of the passenger compartment or some other way?
3. Is it really necessary to drop the subframe to change the steering rack?

Thank you.

Accidentally posted this also in the wrong forum: https://www.berlingoforum.com/thread-197...#pid124678. If any admin is around, feel free to delete this post and move the other one here.

[GraemeT]

1. Yes no  pictures :-)
2. Mine was a 2007 model - four bolts, one each side up into the wing and two in the front of the wishbones that go into captive bolts within the wishbone (I assume these are the problem?). Ones in the wings - before slackening tip lots of old engine oil/diesel/ penetrating oil into the cavity. Let it sit for a day or two. Slacken bolts until the feel tight. Stop. Let sit again for a day. Repeat until you can drop enough to do the job (I never removed these completely.
Ones in the captive bolts - soaking in oil made little help. One I got undone enough to get a padsaw with a short piece of hacksaw blade in onto the exposed threads in front of the bolt and manually cut, took ages and totally p*ssed me off.
The other bolt I managed to wedge against the metal of the wishbone with a screwdriver/cold chisel. This did distort the wishbone a little.
3. I think you could get away with not dropping it if you could take the hydraulic 'knuckle' off the rack in situ then pull the rack out - but I don't think that would be very easy as access to the knuckle is very tight.

I hated this job on the Berlingo - probably the worst job I had on the car, the subframe bolts are very badly designed.