Rear monospring - need help fast
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,969
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From: South Georgia
Rear monospring - need help fast
This is the gist. My rear Monospring broke about two to three months ago. This morning the suspension drops down (while driving no less). It appears one of the bolts [b]BROKE[\b]. Now, I am at work (sucks) and 20 miles from home.
Is it safe to nurse it (slowly) back home??
Also, I ordered new longer bolts from VB&P, but won't get them until later this week. My other question is this, what size bolt can I use to temporarily fix this clusterf*ck and do I need anything else (bushings, spacers etc...)?
Thanks,
Kenny
Is it safe to nurse it (slowly) back home??
Also, I ordered new longer bolts from VB&P, but won't get them until later this week. My other question is this, what size bolt can I use to temporarily fix this clusterf*ck and do I need anything else (bushings, spacers etc...)?
Thanks,
Kenny
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
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From: San Pedro CA
Go to your local hardware store... You will need tools and a jack, of course, but get a grade 8 bolt. That will get you home, just don't get too cwazy with it, cause the G8 bolt won't hold up forever.
I don't remember the size, but I would think a 7/16x16x 6 would do it. get 2 nuts, too. They can jamb against each other and keep the bolt from walking off.
I would not drive it until the bolt is fixed.
I don't remember the size, but I would think a 7/16x16x 6 would do it. get 2 nuts, too. They can jamb against each other and keep the bolt from walking off.
I would not drive it until the bolt is fixed.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
I surley wouldn't drive it like that. You will need a bolt that is about 9'' long. 1/2'' or 9/16'' will work. Ready rod may be your only freind as that size bolt is hard to come by. When i lowered mine i used 9/16'' alloy ready rod. 
Team Owner
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From: Riverside County Southern California
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Dude be carefull with that. 
Stop now. It will be cheaper to fix where you at now. More damage, more expenses
Stop now. It will be cheaper to fix where you at now. More damage, more expenses
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,969
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From: South Georgia
Gist
Can I drive it home slowly. I have two other vehicles to drive, but cannot leave the car at work. My boss would be pissed, and since I am an LEO, I cannot afford to get her really pissed at me. Don't ask.
Kenny
Kenny
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Patchogue NY
Originally Posted by KBoltz
Can I drive it home slowly. I have two other vehicles to drive, but cannot leave the car at work. My boss would be pissed, and since I am an LEO, I cannot afford to get her really pissed at me. Don't ask.
Kenny
Kenny
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
If your spring has been broke for 2 or 3 months and you have been driving it, I would bet the spring is what made the car drop and bolt break off - If the spring is broken into 2 parts, a bolt wont help...
What bolt broke?
a flatbed like tigmaned suggested is your best bet
What bolt broke?
a flatbed like tigmaned suggested is your best bet
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by KBoltz
Can I drive it home slowly. I have two other vehicles to drive, but cannot leave the car at work. My boss would be pissed, and since I am an LEO, I cannot afford to get her really pissed at me. Don't ask.
Kenny
Kenny
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
The stock bolt is 14mm and a bit over 9" long. Your replacements you have ordered will be about an inch or so longer. I'm using 16mm bolts on mine. I had to ream the poly bushings a bit but surprisingly they went through the stock washers w/o enlarging the holes. the stock 14mm bolts are very close in size to a 9/16" bolt. The 16mm is virtually identical to a 5/8" in diameter. Some easily available 1/2" ready-rod should get you home so proper repairs can be made.
Race Director
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From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
The stock bolt is 14mm and a bit over 9" long. .
"Starret No 436-1in"
Mike
Last edited by aboatguy; Oct 9, 2005 at 01:23 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 40
From: South Georgia
Well
I was able to nurse it home.
After careful scrutiny, the bolt did not fail. I had paid Kellogg Chevrolet to replace the spring with a VB&P unit. When they installed the spring, they did not put a washer on the bolt on the bottom. All it had was the bushing, which is totally destroyed.
No more using them, that's for damn sure.
And thanks for all the help.
Kenny
After careful scrutiny, the bolt did not fail. I had paid Kellogg Chevrolet to replace the spring with a VB&P unit. When they installed the spring, they did not put a washer on the bolt on the bottom. All it had was the bushing, which is totally destroyed.
No more using them, that's for damn sure.
And thanks for all the help.
Kenny
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by KBoltz
I was able to nurse it home.
After careful scrutiny, the bolt did not fail. I had paid Kellogg Chevrolet to replace the spring with a VB&P unit. When they installed the spring, they did not put a washer on the bolt on the bottom. All it had was the bushing, which is totally destroyed.
No more using them, that's for damn sure.
And thanks for all the help.
Kenny
After careful scrutiny, the bolt did not fail. I had paid Kellogg Chevrolet to replace the spring with a VB&P unit. When they installed the spring, they did not put a washer on the bolt on the bottom. All it had was the bushing, which is totally destroyed.
No more using them, that's for damn sure.
And thanks for all the help.
Kenny
