It's been a tough week.

"TurboSloth" (TheTurboSloth) 03/12/2014 at 07:57 • Filed to: None

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I hit a pothole, and because my car is low, the front member bar basically bent, and the screws holding it in got their head sheared off. Now the screw is stuck. Because I have midterms, and intership interviews, my dad has graciously been fixing my car. However, he decided to drill the screw out, and now theres no thread where we put the screw in. So now, we can't actually install the new bar. (I can't really complain. He is fixing it, (hes no mechanic, clearly) and I have a metric shitton of work that needs to be done).

I don't even know what to do. I was thinking, I should just give it to the dealership, and have them figure it out, however, I have a giant sheet of aluminum which is my bottom skid plate, which I know the guys at Mitsubishi won't know how to replace back. Seriously, I don't even know what to do.

davedave1111 > TurboSloth 03/12/2014 at 08:09

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http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/tap…

You need to cut a new thread and use a slightly larger bolt.

samssun > TurboSloth 03/12/2014 at 08:12

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You can thread for a bigger bolt, or use a Heli Coil threaded insert which will let you use the original bolt size.

yamahog > davedave1111 03/12/2014 at 08:14

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Or, if you enjoy swearing, helicoil. Never had to do one myself but my dad haaates them.

Mattbob > davedave1111 03/12/2014 at 08:14

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or even tap larger and helicoil. Sounds like a small problem being made into a large problem by panicking due to lack of know how. As long as he stays here on oppo for a while, and doesn't go to the dark (dealer) side, I think he will be alright.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > yamahog 03/12/2014 at 08:55

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Helicoil is the devil, but better than nothing, and often a way to make all your bolts match again. Generally only worth resorting to in some piece of cast and to make all your bolts match again- other applications that aren't size sensitive retap FTW.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > TurboSloth 03/12/2014 at 10:03

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I don't know your setup but would it be possible to put a bolt thru with a lock nut on the other side?

Nibbles > TurboSloth 03/12/2014 at 10:17

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I'm seconding everyone here with either a tap and die or helicoil. Tap and die sets will put you back a couple of dollars but good lord are they handy! Helicoils are pains in the ass but a cheap fix