subframe spacer install from hell

[aznpoopy]

well after doing some basic maintenance we decided to throw on a set of subframe spacers that have been lying around for a few weeks.

after getting them in and torqueing down the bolts ... the VERY last bolt (14mm on the driver side front) decides to strip threads after it's all the way in. needless to say i cannot torque it down to spec, nor can i screw it out. it just spins and spins and spins... taunting me.

driving around it clunks anytime i accelerate. if i off throttle, coast in neutral, brake, etc... it's fine. as soon as your foot is on the gas, it clunks. and the clunking got progressively louder. i decided not to chance the 50 mile drive home and got a ride.

so what are my options? drill it out and tap it for a bigger bolt?
anyone got a clever solution? any tricks to try? thanks.

i hate old cars. :madfawk:

[Ricks15]

Weld a long piece of scrap metal to the head of the screw and try twisting out of it place.

[aznpoopy]

would that work? the head of the bolt is not stripped. it is the threads inside between the bolt and the body that are stripped.

[Ricks15]

How did you strip the threads from the inside????????? did you screw the bolt at a angle or what???? damn thats wierd if they got it stripped if you screwed the bolt directly into the subframe hole.

[aznpoopy]

yep... did it by the book.

hand tightened, then a ratchet, then a breaker bar. when i put the bar on it, it was going in easy. suddenly it just spun extremely freely. i knew i was fucked right then and there.

i blame it on the area... salt, rain and snow. the very tip of the bolt was really rusty when i took it out. it made me a little anxious but the threads looked okay so i just used it. plus, the other side looked the same and torqued down fine. oh well. :(

[Ricks15]

Dude if you noticed that there was a lot rust on the bolt why didnt you clean up the bolt or just at that very moment go and get a new bolt?????? Damnn you best bet is going to be to raise the car up at a shop that has a really big lift and weld that piece of scrap metal on the head of the screw and with all you're might and strength pull it out of there by twisting it as best as you can . You need that piece of scrap metal to be welded not tacked and make sure its long enough so you can get a good grip of it. Cuz like you said twisting it out with tools isnt going to make it come out of there you need to be twisting it out and pulling it at the same time. It will also be a good Idea that you order a new piece of that subframe that got messed up, dont even bother rethreading that fucked up piece, its to much work trying to put new threads on something thats allready fucked.

[aznpoopy]

well i can't really order a new piece of the subframe unless i order a new chassis...

this particular bolt doesn't screw into the subframe. it screws into the body of the car. so i basically need to rethread a hole on the body of the car. sux ass.

rust on bolts is totally normal here... if i were to never use slightly rusty bolts, i'd be buying new bolts everytime i did any job on my car. lol. XD

[Ricks15]

Just try that tip hopefully that damn bolt comes off with out causeing too much trouble, be extra carfull when you rethread that hole Id reccomend useing a Starret brand taping tool and bit to do it those are good tools that are meant for this kinda of shit or just use a high quality tapping bit but take you're time when you're rethreading.

[aznpoopy]

thanks for the advice man. imma definitely keep that in mind when i hit the hardware store.

[aznpoopy]

someone suggested using a heli coil. anyone have any experience using these? is it safe?

[krustindumm]

generally ends up stronger than before. perfectly safe.

[NIK90s13]

You did'nt strip the bolt. The nut that that bolt screws into is/was welded to the chassis, most likely tacked, broke loose from the chassis and is spinning loose on the end of the bolt. I just crawled out of my car (s13 hatch) looking under my back seats under the back carpet ect.. trying to get to the nuts. No luck, I think the one you are looking for is under the back side pannel in my car. I do'nt have my fsm handy, I left it at work. But you need to some how get to the top of the nut in the inside of the car, you get there you are gold!!! Sorry for the long post.

[aznpoopy]

werd! i thought it screwed into threads in the chassis... but if there's a nut inside the frame somewhere that would make things 10x easier. imma go look for it and cross my fingers. :D

edit: hmmm... that would explain the clunking noise i heard in the car.

[NIK90s13]

the clunking noise when you were dirving? Yea, the bolt isn't tight enough. I'll check my fsm in the morning and let you know what more I come up with. I don't know how hard it will be to get to it from the inside. But if you can, that would be the way.

[NIK90s13]

OK I looked in my fsm and it didn't show me what you need. See if you can get to the nut from the top, if it is in accesabel in the chassis, like I said, I looked for about 10 min. for mine. I have a last ditch idea. It wont be easy, but what you got going on you already know that! :( What you will have to do is cut the head off the bolt, pull off the whole subframe and spot weld the nut back in place from the out side. Then you can use ''ricks15'' weld idea to get the cut stud off, then it wont spin. I hope you can get to it from the top, but I couldn't see mine last night! Keep posting!!!!

[RHDintegXSI]

i know im bringing this back from the dead..but was anyone able to find a replacement stud?