I want to remove the hitch from my '94 850 to sell to someone. On each side there are 2 large bolts oriented vertically that go into the frame, and 4 smaller (14mm) bolts that are oriented horizontally. The 4 smaller ones crack loose easily. The larger ones that go vertically into the frame I can turn by wrenching hard but all I get is lots of squealing and they don't loosen up which tells me there is a nut up there that's turning along with the bolt. As far as I can see the only way to get at the nut inside the hollow frame is to remove the entire bumper assembly.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm not going to take the bumper assembly off. I could just cut the large hitch bolts off, but the 2 on the right side also hold the exhaust up so I want to keep those intact.

Thank you!

 

Not sure if you already have this but ..........

Trailer Hitch Instructions For DrawTite, Reese, Hidden Hitch & More - etrailer.com

 

Sounds like you dont have the typical hitch that comes on these cars. There should only be three mount points. You can see them in the link above. Maybe some pictures would help.

 

Hi Thanks for the suggestions. One of my 850s does have an aftermarket hitch like in link but this one is different and I think factory.

I found a hole in the trunk above one vertical bolts, can see the nut in there but a socket won't fit in the hole, and also can't see the forward bolt. The two vertical bolts I can't remove.



I may just enlarge the holes inside the trunk to gain access to the nuts.
I appreciate the time and effort you all have spent trying to help!

 

@ KissAFrog

Thanks for the link. I had been wondering where my hitch came from and this is it.

 

Yes. The 2 large bolts screw to a welded nut, and you guessed correctly that nut has gotten loose. Only option is to cut the bolts.

 

It always starts out being easy and goes down hill from there. What do you have to hack off the bolts/nuts?

 

I'd go down through the trunk with a hole saw to get socket access to the welded nuts. The holes can be filled back with some rubber plugs, or...if under the trunk mat...Black Gorilla Tape (that stuff is EXCELLENT!).
I just put a hitch on my 850R, but it was a Curt hitch, and went on exactly like the drawing , above.

 

Got the hitch off it was pretty easy. I used an angle grinder to enlarge the holes in the trunk, nuts on inside are 19mm and the bolt heads below are 17mm. Nuts were not welded to frame so I still believe the hitch was installed at factory and was put on prior to bumper being put on. I attached some photos showing what I did. I'm going to caulk the cut slots with silicone caulk tonight. One of the bolts that goes through the exhaust bracket is longer, and this one does have a welded nut inside the frame, with the 19mm nut on top of that over a collar. I attached some pictures (I hope). This is probably just a curiosity to most of you but maybe it will help someone, somewhere!

Slots cut:

Slots opened showing nuts inside:

Slot closed back up ready for caulk:

Hitch/exhaust bracket reattached after hitch removed:

Here's what hitch bracket looks like on left side: