Upper a-arm threads in frame stripped
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Lakeville, MA
St. Jude Donor '10
Upper a-arm threads in frame stripped
What's the best option to repair the threaded insert in the frame that the front upper control arm attaches to? One of mine is stripped and bolt just spins.
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use a pry bar and apply some pressure behind the head of the bolt as you are trying to loosen it and that might help get it out... once it's out you can try retapping the threads and getting new bolts, if that doesn't work you might have to go to the next size up tap and bolts
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Lakeville, MA
St. Jude Donor '10
use a pry bar and apply some pressure behind the head of the bolt as you are trying to loosen it and that might help get it out... once it's out you can try retapping the threads and getting new bolts, if that doesn't work you might have to go to the next size up tap and bolts
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Lakeville, MA
St. Jude Donor '10
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 64
From: Lakeville, MA
St. Jude Donor '10
So I was going to tap the hole for a 7/16 bolt but it's too wide to fit through the control arm. What are my other options? Can a heli coil be used, or do I need to drill the insert out and put a new insert in? Hoping someone who's had this issue can share what they did to fix it.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Lakeville, MA
St. Jude Donor '10
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Tech Contributor
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
That's a clinch nut or Rivet Nut. It uses what looks like Big POP RIVIT GUN to install it. You can find them at Harbor freight or on line. Maybe get the gun and some clinch nuts and drill that one out and pop in another one OR try to reinstall that one. Insert the tool and recompress it..
Another option, find someone with a portable welder and put a spot weld on a couple spots on the outer edge. Then just file it smooth again.
I would get the tool and see if you can recompress the one that's already in there.
Here is a great vid you can see just how it works:
Bill
Another option, find someone with a portable welder and put a spot weld on a couple spots on the outer edge. Then just file it smooth again.
I would get the tool and see if you can recompress the one that's already in there.
Here is a great vid you can see just how it works:
Bill
Burning Brakes
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From: Austin Tx
That's a clinch nut or Rivet Nut. It uses what looks like Big POP RIVIT GUN to install it. You can find them at Harbor freight or on line. Maybe get the gun and some clinch nuts and drill that one out and pop in another one OR try to reinstall that one. Insert the tool and recompress it..
Another option, find someone with a portable welder and put a spot weld on a couple spots on the outer edge. Then just file it smooth again.
I would get the tool and see if you can recompress the one that's already in there.
Here is a great vid you can see just how it works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7yIqKnLGPc
Bill
Another option, find someone with a portable welder and put a spot weld on a couple spots on the outer edge. Then just file it smooth again.
I would get the tool and see if you can recompress the one that's already in there.
Here is a great vid you can see just how it works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7yIqKnLGPc
Bill
Last edited by shadowman1; Sep 1, 2016 at 10:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Lakeville, MA
St. Jude Donor '10
Yes I ordered some m10x1.5 rivnuts and also have helicoils. May try helicoil first and if that doesn't work, drill out the insert and go with the rivnut. I've searched this issue and seems some have used heli coils with success. Will post up once I tackle the fix.
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Drill and tap,,,,,,,,,,,, Insert a helicoil,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, BOTH are BAD ideas. Examine how thick your frame is....... Its NOT very thick. Its basically a hydroformed piece of pipe.
When you put in a helicoil or try to thread that frame metal, you are concentrating a LOT of frame member (A ARM ) stress on two or three threads in that hole. That's why GM used a clinch nut / nut rivet.
If tapping a hole in the frame was adequate, I'm positive GM would have gone that route for all of the bolt on frame components holes.
When you put in a helicoil or try to thread that frame metal, you are concentrating a LOT of frame member (A ARM ) stress on two or three threads in that hole. That's why GM used a clinch nut / nut rivet.
If tapping a hole in the frame was adequate, I'm positive GM would have gone that route for all of the bolt on frame components holes.
Team Owner
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From: Western NY
Drill and tap,,,,,,,,,,,, Insert a helicoil,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, BOTH are BAD ideas. Examine how thick your frame is....... Its NOT very thick. Its basically a hydroformed piece of pipe.
When you put in a helicoil or try to thread that frame metal, you are concentrating a LOT of frame member (A ARM ) stress on two or three threads in that hole. That's why GM used a clinch nut / nut rivet.
If tapping a hole in the frame was adequate, I'm positive GM would have gone that route for all of the bolt on frame components holes.
When you put in a helicoil or try to thread that frame metal, you are concentrating a LOT of frame member (A ARM ) stress on two or three threads in that hole. That's why GM used a clinch nut / nut rivet.
If tapping a hole in the frame was adequate, I'm positive GM would have gone that route for all of the bolt on frame components holes.
A number of years ago, I had to remove and replace a damaged "rivnut" that was used to attach a sway bar clamp.....not on a Corvette, however. Yes, the tool is like an oversized pop rivet gun.
Drifting
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Can you take pictures after you use the Rivnut and also a link to which rivet gun you go with? I had never heard of a rivnut till this thread, sounds like I have a new tool to go out and grab for a just in case moment.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Lakeville, MA
St. Jude Donor '10
I used a helicoil and it worked perfect. The insert that was in the frame was almost the size of the tap for the helicoil. The helicoil is not sitting in the frame, it essentially rethread the insert. Piece of cake and torque to spec no problem.
Le Mans Master
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What size tap and bolt ?