How would you deal with this? (hidden fastener)
#1
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (21)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,593
Total Cats: 1,259
How would you deal with this? (hidden fastener)
I'm getting ready to swap exhaust, clutch, etc. The P.O. tack welded the sub-frame brace parts together. No big deal, just remove the whole thing, right?
Well, one of the bolts (furthest forward, driver side) starts to loosen, then starts spinning. Seems I've broken the welded nut lose from the chassis. This nut does not appear to be accessible from inside the car. There's some sort of double thickness sheet metal at that point. Either that, or I'm blind.
I can neither remove nor tighten this bolt. Left as is, it will rattle (completely unacceptable). And, of course, it does nothing to hold the sub-frame bracing if not tightened down. I could hacksaw it off, but that leaves no way to install another bolt in it's place.
So, what would you do in this case? Drill a hole inside the car to get to the nut with vise grips? Something else? What would a dealer do besides leave it and hope the customer never noticed?
For reference, it's a 1994 base model. Suggestions appreciated.
Well, one of the bolts (furthest forward, driver side) starts to loosen, then starts spinning. Seems I've broken the welded nut lose from the chassis. This nut does not appear to be accessible from inside the car. There's some sort of double thickness sheet metal at that point. Either that, or I'm blind.
I can neither remove nor tighten this bolt. Left as is, it will rattle (completely unacceptable). And, of course, it does nothing to hold the sub-frame bracing if not tightened down. I could hacksaw it off, but that leaves no way to install another bolt in it's place.
So, what would you do in this case? Drill a hole inside the car to get to the nut with vise grips? Something else? What would a dealer do besides leave it and hope the customer never noticed?
For reference, it's a 1994 base model. Suggestions appreciated.
#10
Or is it the front one that's one tube with 2 bolts at each end:
Assuming the bolt is just to hold the brace on (and not holding the front subframe to the unibody), then you probably don't need that attachment point (or at least, can do without it if you install something like the FM frame rails). In that case, what I'd do is use a cutoff wheel to remove the head from the bolt, remove the subframe brace, and then try to tack-weld the nut with the shank of the bolt inside it to the unibody so that it doesn't rattle around. After that I would reinstall the brace minus that attachment point.
The right fix probably involves cutting a piece of sheet metal out of the unibody, making a patch with a hole and a new welded nut, then welding the patch back to the car.
--Ian
#12
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (21)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,593
Total Cats: 1,259
Yes.
I'd either have to cut the brace to avoid it banging against the bottom of the car, or find a way to fasten it down. Unfortunately for me, I think the patch method is probably best. Thanks.
Assuming the bolt is just to hold the brace on (and not holding the front subframe to the unibody), then you probably don't need that attachment point (or at least, can do without it if you install something like the FM frame rails). In that case, what I'd do is use a cutoff wheel to remove the head from the bolt, remove the subframe brace, and then try to tack-weld the nut with the shank of the bolt inside it to the unibody so that it doesn't rattle around. After that I would reinstall the brace minus that attachment point.
The right fix probably involves cutting a piece of sheet metal out of the unibody, making a patch with a hole and a new welded nut, then welding the patch back to the car.
--Ian
The right fix probably involves cutting a piece of sheet metal out of the unibody, making a patch with a hole and a new welded nut, then welding the patch back to the car.
--Ian
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mrmonk7663
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
0
03-20-2018 04:47 PM
flier129
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
26
03-30-2012 08:52 AM