Why does GM spec replacement of cradle nuts?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 57
From: Kensington MD
Why does GM spec replacement of cradle nuts?
So GM says whenever you remove the bigass rear cradle nuts to drop your drivetrain, that the nuts need to be replaced with new ones. Why is that? AFAIK there's no such thing as a TTY nut.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The nuts probably have a thread locker of some type on them and this way they make sure you replace that. I reused mine when I did the clutch and just used a little blue loctite, not too much because you don't want to break the studs out of the floor if you ever have to remove them again. Then you will have BIG problems.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Relatively inexpensive so I replace. Kind of find it amusing that folks will spend thousands on parts like an aftermarket clutch, new rear gears, etc. but won't spring for a few bucks for new cradle nuts.
Last edited by vettenuts; Mar 28, 2017 at 07:23 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,404
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
True, but if you have to source the nuts from a GM dealer, they're going to rake you over the coals, pricewise....
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Impact is a bad idea. Probably not a great idea to use loctite either. Break the rivet holding the bold in the rear and you can't hold the bolt without cutting an access hole in the floor.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 6,819
Likes: 235
From: Bell Buckle, TN
St. Jude Donor '11
We have tightened 1000's of cradle bolts with impact's then take a breaker bar and cheater pipe to lock them into place. Never broke anything.
Last edited by Marc@Vettenuts.net; Mar 28, 2017 at 05:12 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
I broke a rivet on a front bolt and one of the back ones is quite loose.