Crossmember stud threads stripped

[burlybryan]

Finally tore down my left front again to determine why the rear crossmember stud at the lower a-arm won't torque. Turns out the threads are stripped. Does this mean new crossmember or could I helicoil this or drill out and put a bolt in? Drilling it out seems like kind of a nightmare, but so does the cost of a new crossmember.

Thanks for any help.

bryan

[djape1977]

just hammer out existing stud and replace it

[burlybryan]

Good observation! I assumed they were more securely installed. Pounded out easily. Then spent a good hour trying to get a new bolt fitted through the weep hole from the underside of the crossmember. Unlike the front stud, the rear one is inside and takes some magic (and a magnet, pick and long fingers) to get reinstalled.

All together now. Thanks.

Bryan

[djape1977]

you're welcome.

it's a common problem on 124s. just hope you used replacement stud of decent quality. 10.9 or at least 8.8 mark. those soft ones marked 5.6 available in most hardware stores are just to soft and might shear off at first pothole. if you used some old stud from elsewhere on the car it's ok cause most screws on those old fiats are 10.9

and it does take all of three, a magnet, pick, long fingers and usually lots of nasty words to get it in

cheers

Pedja

[burlybryan]

Thanks. Yes, I used an SAE grade 8 bolt and nut.

Cheers.

[baltobernie]

...and it does take all of three, a magnet, pick, long fingers and usually lots of nasty words to get it

Yet another splendid application for copious amounts of Installation Fluid