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Lost a few captive nuts

Lost a few captive nuts

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toxo
Posting Freak
4,843
10-03-2018, 03:10 AM
#1
There's a front suspension arm on my car that bolts to the chassis rail with 4 chunky M8 bolts with big spreader washers. There are 4 corresponding captive nuts inside the chassis rail. On my car 2 of these captive nuts are missing. The missing nuts are both on the same side of the rail, allowing the plate that bolts to it to flex down the middle.

I'm looking at ways of fixing this. So far the suggestions I've got are:

Cut a small access section out of the chassis rail, weld some new nuts inside, weld the chassis rail up with some reinforcement. I DON'T LIKE THIS OPTION!!

Insert rivet nuts into the chassis rail where the captive nuts used to be. I like this option, but are rivet nuts strong enough? Obviously I'd go for steel ones not aluminium ones.

Weld a stud inplace of the missing nut, and use a nut instead of a bolt to bolt the suspension up. Not so keen on that as I see it as being a difficult place to weld to.

Weld a plate onto the chassis rail with 2 holes through to the existing nuts, and 2 new nuts in place of the missing ones. I think this alters the suspension geometry too much (basically the arm will sit lower by the thickness of the plate).

Could those of you with engineering experience suggest how to move forward?
Edited 21-04-2011, 12:49 PM by toxo.
toxo
10-03-2018, 03:10 AM #1

There's a front suspension arm on my car that bolts to the chassis rail with 4 chunky M8 bolts with big spreader washers. There are 4 corresponding captive nuts inside the chassis rail. On my car 2 of these captive nuts are missing. The missing nuts are both on the same side of the rail, allowing the plate that bolts to it to flex down the middle.

I'm looking at ways of fixing this. So far the suggestions I've got are:

Cut a small access section out of the chassis rail, weld some new nuts inside, weld the chassis rail up with some reinforcement. I DON'T LIKE THIS OPTION!!

Insert rivet nuts into the chassis rail where the captive nuts used to be. I like this option, but are rivet nuts strong enough? Obviously I'd go for steel ones not aluminium ones.

Weld a stud inplace of the missing nut, and use a nut instead of a bolt to bolt the suspension up. Not so keen on that as I see it as being a difficult place to weld to.

Weld a plate onto the chassis rail with 2 holes through to the existing nuts, and 2 new nuts in place of the missing ones. I think this alters the suspension geometry too much (basically the arm will sit lower by the thickness of the plate).

Could those of you with engineering experience suggest how to move forward?

FirebirdPhil
Posting Freak
7,101
10-03-2018, 03:19 AM
#2
Picture?

"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
FirebirdPhil
10-03-2018, 03:19 AM #2

Picture?


"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"

toxo
Posting Freak
4,843
10-03-2018, 03:20 AM
#3
Yeah that would help wouldn't it. I'll see what I can find.
toxo
10-03-2018, 03:20 AM #3

Yeah that would help wouldn't it. I'll see what I can find.

purplewitch
Posting Freak
3,953
10-03-2018, 03:55 AM
#4
engineering experience ? hmm... what about witchineering experience ? Smile

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"]That symbol on the side of my door.. Definition by FirebirdPhil 'Translated it means -
"try to overtake - go on give it a go I dare you......." [/COLOR]
I'm not an Outlaw; I'm a Poutlaw! Purple Supras are the bestest! I love purple .. a lot lot lot Smile
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purplewitch
10-03-2018, 03:55 AM #4

engineering experience ? hmm... what about witchineering experience ? Smile


[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"]That symbol on the side of my door.. Definition by FirebirdPhil 'Translated it means -
"try to overtake - go on give it a go I dare you......." [/COLOR]
I'm not an Outlaw; I'm a Poutlaw! Purple Supras are the bestest! I love purple .. a lot lot lot Smile
Follow us on Twitter and join us on Facebook

FirebirdPhil
Posting Freak
7,101
10-03-2018, 04:21 AM
#5
You know my 1st reply was something along the gaffer tape and super glue lines...... I decided to leave that post to the witch..........

"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
FirebirdPhil
10-03-2018, 04:21 AM #5

You know my 1st reply was something along the gaffer tape and super glue lines...... I decided to leave that post to the witch..........


"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"

toxo
Posting Freak
4,843
11-03-2018, 02:42 PM
#6
OK, some photos for you.

This is the bracket (the shiny new black bit) bolted up to the chassis rail:

[Image: IMGP2490.JPG]

As you can see it supports the full force of the leading strut arm.

This is a shot from the ground upwards showing one of the holes where there should be a bolt and a captive nut - the other missing one is obscured by the blue arm.

[Image: IMGP2492.JPG]

This is the other side, with the bracket removed. There are 4 holes (again one of them is obscured in the photo) with a captive nut in each hole.

[Image: IMGP2496.JPG]

The box section is all totally closed off, there's no way to get to the inside of it. I think rivet nuts are the way ahead here.
toxo
11-03-2018, 02:42 PM #6

OK, some photos for you.

This is the bracket (the shiny new black bit) bolted up to the chassis rail:

[Image: IMGP2490.JPG]

As you can see it supports the full force of the leading strut arm.

This is a shot from the ground upwards showing one of the holes where there should be a bolt and a captive nut - the other missing one is obscured by the blue arm.

[Image: IMGP2492.JPG]

This is the other side, with the bracket removed. There are 4 holes (again one of them is obscured in the photo) with a captive nut in each hole.

[Image: IMGP2496.JPG]

The box section is all totally closed off, there's no way to get to the inside of it. I think rivet nuts are the way ahead here.

danielson
Member
109
12-03-2018, 12:47 AM
#7
yes it would work riv nuts are strong as ***k .a lot of the parts on a ariel atoms use them . make sure what size the hole is and the correct size riv nut .the air powered gun makes life easyer to fit them hope this helps toxo
danielson
12-03-2018, 12:47 AM #7

yes it would work riv nuts are strong as ***k .a lot of the parts on a ariel atoms use them . make sure what size the hole is and the correct size riv nut .the air powered gun makes life easyer to fit them hope this helps toxo

Phil01
Posting Freak
2,004
12-03-2018, 10:53 AM
#8
rivet nuts mate, I have used them in the past and are more than capable of withstanding the required torque when tightening.
For those members who have never heard of them,,
http://www.enfasco.com/frame4.htm
Phil01
12-03-2018, 10:53 AM #8

rivet nuts mate, I have used them in the past and are more than capable of withstanding the required torque when tightening.
For those members who have never heard of them,,
http://www.enfasco.com/frame4.htm

CIH
Junior Member
38
25-03-2018, 01:38 PM
#9
the blue arm is a tension rod BTW Wink

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
CIH
25-03-2018, 01:38 PM #9

the blue arm is a tension rod BTW Wink


[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

toxo
Posting Freak
4,843
26-03-2018, 01:39 AM
#10
CIH the blue arm is a tension rod BTW Wink

Meh, tension rod, leading arm, same thing :p

You'll be seeing it shortly anyway, once I've sorted out these nuts!
toxo
26-03-2018, 01:39 AM #10

CIH the blue arm is a tension rod BTW Wink

Meh, tension rod, leading arm, same thing :p

You'll be seeing it shortly anyway, once I've sorted out these nuts!

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