Stripped bolt raising my C5?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Parker CO
Stripped bolt raising my C5?
Well my 99 coupe was too low (the PO lowered it 2 inches) so I decided to reverse the directions for lowering the car. I was tightening the rear bolt up with my air ratchet but after about 1/2" it seemed to get easier to turn and the bolt wasn't going anywhere! So I must have stripped the bolt or nut. 
Did I reach the shank of the bolt? The bummer is I couldn't back it out either. 
So I guess I should order a new set of bolts and nuts, use a jack to take the pressure off of the spring and sawzall the bolt? Unless anyone else has any ideas?.....
Did I reach the shank of the bolt? The bummer is I couldn't back it out either. So I guess I should order a new set of bolts and nuts, use a jack to take the pressure off of the spring and sawzall the bolt? Unless anyone else has any ideas?.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
First thing you need to do is put the air tools down 
Jack the back of the car into the air and then put the jack under the control arm and raise it to take the pressure off of the spring, if the nut can't be loosened from the bolt then you will probably need to cut the bolt off and replace it.
You only need to turn the nut a turn or 2 and it shouldn't be difficult to turn, so if you have to use air tools then something is wrong.
Jack the back of the car into the air and then put the jack under the control arm and raise it to take the pressure off of the spring, if the nut can't be loosened from the bolt then you will probably need to cut the bolt off and replace it.
You only need to turn the nut a turn or 2 and it shouldn't be difficult to turn, so if you have to use air tools then something is wrong.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
You don't have nor want to jack on the spring or anything when adjusting the rear.
The rear spring is unloaded when the car is in the air.
If the nut won't loosen up now, you'll probably have to cut the bolt and replace it.
The rear spring is unloaded when the car is in the air.
If the nut won't loosen up now, you'll probably have to cut the bolt and replace it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Parker CO
Originally Posted by runamuk
First thing you need to do is put the air tools down
You only need to turn the nut a turn or 2 and it shouldn't be difficult to turn, so if you have to use air tools then something is wrong.
You only need to turn the nut a turn or 2 and it shouldn't be difficult to turn, so if you have to use air tools then something is wrong.
I think the PO actually put different bolts on because the ones that are on back there don't have any coating on it and are corroded.
Do they make shorter bolts for the rear? If that's the case I probably stripped the nut on the bolt shank.
Originally Posted by Y2Kvert4me
You don't have nor want to jack on the spring or anything when adjusting the rear.
The rear spring is unloaded when the car is in the air.
If the nut won't loosen up now, you'll probably have to cut the bolt and replace it.
The rear spring is unloaded when the car is in the air.
If the nut won't loosen up now, you'll probably have to cut the bolt and replace it.
Well I guess I should add two bolts and nuts to my order from Fred Beans.
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
FYI, when playing with my ride height, I discovered that approximately 4 turns == 1/2" height change.
I really don't see how you could have stripped that bolt. You know there's a nut on top right? The bolt is huge, it would have taken a serious impact wrench to injure it. And even then I doubt it. Unless the bolt was defective.
Dope
I really don't see how you could have stripped that bolt. You know there's a nut on top right? The bolt is huge, it would have taken a serious impact wrench to injure it. And even then I doubt it. Unless the bolt was defective.
Dope
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Originally Posted by Y2Kvert4me
You don't have nor want to jack on the spring or anything when adjusting the rear.
The rear spring is unloaded when the car is in the air.
If the nut won't loosen up now, you'll probably have to cut the bolt and replace it.
The rear spring is unloaded when the car is in the air.
If the nut won't loosen up now, you'll probably have to cut the bolt and replace it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Parker CO
Originally Posted by vettenuts
Almost sounds like someone used aftermarket bolts from Autozone. See it happen a lot. Get original GM bolts and replace them.
Thanks for everyone's help,
Kerry
Last edited by d55guy; Jan 27, 2005 at 06:04 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Parker CO
Well I got a pair of new bolts and nuts from the dealer for a whopping $9 and was able to cut the old one out with a fair amount of effort. The old bolt is about 1 inch longer and much finer thread then the GM bolt. The GM is very course thread while the old ones were very fine thread. That at least explains why I was getting a much different change in height compared to what Dope got. The factory bolts have about half the thread pitch! The nut was at the end of the bolt shank so I must have stripped it out that way. So the old bolts go into the trash and the new ones will go on tonight. I hope I can finish up tonight and the roads stay dry tomorrow so I can take it for a spin! 
