Shock Install
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 389
Likes: 3
From: Austin TX
Shock Install
Installed rear shocks on my car last night, and one of the upper bolts on the passenger side, would never get tight, just turned and turned, comes out just fine and the threads aren't messed up, and it doesn't bind up when you tighten it, so it's not acting like a stripped bolt, but it won't get tight, the other one got tight and i was able to torque it to 22ftpnds, anybody experiences this, shoud i be concerned about it?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,015
Likes: 508
From: Hilton NY
The captive nut is welded to the frame and it sounds as if the weld failed allowing the turning. I had a similar problem on the driver's side except that the bolt wouldn't come out because the nut turned with it. I used a dremel and 1/8" diameter burr to cut out an access panel about 3" x 7" directly over the shock from the composite trunk floor so the nut could be welded back to the frame. The cut out panel was replaced with Goop adhesive and aluminum tape to hold it in place while the adhesive cured. Only a shallow cut was needed since the frame is close to the floor in this area. If the other nut ever fails then the access panel can be removed by cutting through the adhesive. I would keep an eye on the bolt that isn't torqued in case it loosens up because if it does the stresses will be placed on the other bolt and possibly ruin the shock. If you remove the shock and put the bolt back into the loose nut you can check the weld by turning the bolt and reaching through the large center hole to see if it turns with the nut. After I cut out the access panel there was enough room to put a box wrench on the nut to hold it but I welded it anyway.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
The captive nut is welded to the frame and it sounds as if the weld failed allowing the turning. I had a similar problem on the driver's side except that the bolt wouldn't come out because the nut turned with it. I used a dremel and 1/8" diameter burr to cut out an access panel about 3" x 7" directly over the shock from the composite trunk floor so the nut could be welded back to the frame. The cut out panel was replaced with Goop adhesive and aluminum tape to hold it in place while the adhesive cured. Only a shallow cut was needed since the frame is close to the floor in this area. If the other nut ever fails then the access panel can be removed by cutting through the adhesive. I would keep an eye on the bolt that isn't torqued in case it loosens up because if it does the stresses will be placed on the other bolt and possibly ruin the shock. If you remove the shock and put the bolt back into the loose nut you can check the weld by turning the bolt and reaching through the large center hole to see if it turns with the nut. After I cut out the access panel there was enough room to put a box wrench on the nut to hold it but I welded it anyway.
How the hell did you figure that out? 
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 596
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 761
Likes: 1
From: Glendale, CA
Those upper bolts call for what, 20 ft lbs or so? Define using an impact wrench with precision. Do you mean that you're just gonna hit it with the wrench for half a second? For that half a second, it's still applying way more torque to those bolts than they are made to handle. Now, I'm usually the first to say that the stereotypical Corvette owner follows things by the book too much and acts like the car is made of glass, but the suspension on this car is one thing I actually pull the torque wrench out for.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Those upper bolts call for what, 20 ft lbs or so? Define using an impact wrench with precision. Do you mean that you're just gonna hit it with the wrench for half a second? For that half a second, it's still applying way more torque to those bolts than they are made to handle. Now, I'm usually the first to say that the stereotypical Corvette owner follows things by the book too much and acts like the car is made of glass, but the suspension on this car is one thing I actually pull the torque wrench out for.
RonJ ...
