cb7 issues with rackn pinion well sorta

[h22sparkle]

Well I have this issue im trying to help a fellow cb7 owner and I never had this issue the actual bolts that hold the subframe up closest to the drivers side are missing.

Then there's problem number two the bolts that are missing the actual threadholes are completely stripped. I'm thinking helicoil What are my options and has anyone ever gone through this before? What was the remedy for this issue?

I know the threads for it on this would be the m10 bolt 55 in length and the threadpitch is 1.25. I will be back to post pics in about 10 minutes. Oh and I already tried bigger bolts but they wont fit through the actual bushings through that attached and pressed in the rack and pinion itself.

[Fleetw00d]

The threads in the cross member are stripped? I guess I would try the helicoil first. For a larger bolt, tap larger threads in the cross member, open up the inside diameter of the rubber bushing hole, and fashion a larger sleeve that is the same length as the original metal sleeve.

Changing the cross member itself is a tremendous pain in the neck.

[illinois_erik]

put in a new cross member

it was pretty easy when i stripped my old cb to get it out, but lookie here
you can replace the nutzerts #10.. just use an air hammer and chisel to knock the ones out that are stripped, put in the new one
with a little tack weld. all set.. cake if you can get to things easily

[Fleetw00d]

put in a new cross member

it was pretty easy when i stripped my old cb to get it out

Getting it apart when stripping one is relatively easy; but I can say from experience that taking one apart (that you're planning to put back together) and putting one back in is very tedious. Undoing (then reinstalling) the clips and clamps for the power steering lines that run across the beam from/to the pump and reservoir and to the p.s. speed sensor is very tricky with the car just up on jack stands (on a lift might provide better access). There are a few photos in the thread below from when I changed the beam in my wagon:

http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=207733

[h22sparkle]

The threads in the cross member area stripped? I guess I would try the helicoil first. For a larger bolt, tap larger threads in the cross member, open up the inside diameter of the rubber bushing hole, and fashion a larger sleeve that is the same length as the original metal sleeve.

Changing the cross member itself is a tremendous pain in the neck.

the bushing that's on the rack and pinion itself if encased in metal with rubber covering that bushing.

[Fleetw00d]

the bushing that's on the rack and pinion itself if encased in metal with rubber covering that bushing.

The rubber bushings and metal sleeve are shown as separate parts from the rack on Majestic's site so I think (I have never had need to) they can be removed.

[h22sparkle]

put in a new cross member

it was pretty easy when i stripped my old cb to get it out, but lookie here
you can replace the nutzerts #10.. just use an air hammer and chisel to knock the ones out that are stripped, put in the new one
with a little tack weld. all set.. cake if you can get to things easily

Okay that middle subframe part number 2 the piece where you see the two lumps going towards the drivers side that are adjacent to each other towards the middle. Those two slot holes are what hold the subframe together. I'm going to try by tonight to either weld a nut there for a bolt to catch onto and go from there if the helicoil option does not work for the size I brought it into a 1.25 thread.

[Fleetw00d]

Good luck with the heli-coils. I think the nut plates for the steering rack mounting bolts are in the lower part internal part of the cross member (read that "not accessible"). The #10 items shown are actually just plastic plugs, not threaded inserts.

[h22sparkle]

this is the hole that I managed to rethread and I will be posting it on the 1.50 on a m10 bolt which fits nicely.

This is the second hold thats pointing at the drivers side notice how its stretched. This is the other one that is messed up.

[Fleetw00d]

So you just ran a 10 mm 1.5 thread tap into the one hole? There may not be much real thread left to hold the bolt (be careful torquing it). That second photo looks like the integral nut is missing and there is only the sheet metal. As much as I hate to say it, I think the proper thing to do is to install a new cross member.

[h22sparkle]

I thought about doing this taking an actual bolt and making sure it goes through the hole and then welding it through on there till it points downward and then put a bolt and some washers on it with the threads pointing downwards and then put the nut on it.

[h22sparkle]

Okay fellas I took care of that already. What I had to do was sand down the area with a grinder



this picture I had already placed in one helicoil after threading it in so that worked out nicely.



Then I welded the hole completely shit and sanded it back down nice and smooth. Then from there drill into the hole again it was a 3/8 hole in size then drill then use a step up tap for an accurate size



I then placed the helicoil inside



And done








Enjoy

[Fleetw00d]

Good recovery! I think you're supposed to break the tang off the helicoil once it is installed (I suppose running the bolt in might do that for you).

[h22sparkle]

Good recovery! I think you're supposed to break the tang off the helicoil once it is installed (I suppose running the bolt in might do that for you).

Oh I made sure I did that before i installed the bolt with a slight tap with a phillip screwdriver and hammer.