Well,

"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword) 04/27/2020 at 20:16 • Filed to: None

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F**k

So I initially thought the problem was like many people experience with these cars: spun cage nuts. However, it turns out this nut is just stripped. This is s omehow worse as replacements are 20$ a piece, special order, and I would need to cut the thing and weld it anyway.

Option B is to try to tap it for a bigger bolt, provided I can even find a slightly bigger grade 8 bolt this size (not likely)

Option c is to just rip the whole thing out and put in a standard nut which seems like the most expedient option, but will screw me later if I need to remove the front subframe. Considering this thing needs massive bodywork and the floors will need attention, it also seems plausible that I wont car e about hacking open the floor again.

I dont understand how it could be stripped. The old bolt came out just fine, it was original to the car. There looks to be threads inside:

But as soon as the bolt reaches the end of travel, it stops tightening.

Looks like I won’t be driving it this weekend.

Michael > My bird IS the word 04/27/2020 at 20:35

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What is a cage nut?

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > My bird IS the word 04/27/2020 at 20:38

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Do you think you could ge a helicoil in there? The helicoil will be stronger than the original threads and it won’t require major surgery.

Just an idea.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Michael 04/27/2020 at 20:40

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It’s a nut that’s welded on or held in place by the shape of the metal around it for situations where it's be impossible to get a wrench on the backside

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > My bird IS the word 04/27/2020 at 20:42

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I hate cage nuts. I also didn’t know they were called that.

Did a tap not go in? Were you reusing the old bolt? I’ve seen people use the wrong length hardware before while going into a blind hole.

lone_liberal > Michael 04/27/2020 at 20:42

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A nut inside a metal frame, or cage, that is turn tacked to the sheet metal. The cage keeps the nut from turning so you don’t have to have access to it to tighten or loosen the bolt.

My bird IS the word > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition 04/27/2020 at 20:47

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Ive never used a helicoil. I have plenty of room to work, I will look into it tonight.

My bird IS the word > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 04/27/2020 at 20:49

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I dont have a tap set handy. It may be possible that just recutting the threads a bit may be enough, but considering it is a subframe bolt I am not sure that is a good idea.

There is a brand new bolt going in that hole.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > My bird IS the word 04/27/2020 at 21:00

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Is the hole blind or through?

I think attempting to chase the threads would be worthwhile. If you chase it with the appropriate tap, you’re not making it bigger, you’re just clearing out rust bits of old bolt that got stuck in the threads and getting the metal back in line. And it’s more cost effective, if you’ve got a car part store or a friend around that will lend a kit.

My bird IS the word > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 04/27/2020 at 21:03

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You can see clear through the hole thankfully. Or well, now that I cut a massive hole in my floor to fix the wrong problem...

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > My bird IS the word 04/27/2020 at 21:05

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Ooooh yeah definitely just give chasing threads a try. It’s not that bad. Just go a little at a time and come out for more oil when it gives too much resistance.

Victorinoo > My bird IS the word 04/27/2020 at 21:12

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Maybe it’s just the photo, but the threads don’t look bad. Does it hold torque?

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Michael 04/27/2020 at 21:15

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AKA captive nut.

My bird IS the word > Victorinoo 04/27/2020 at 21:47

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Its vey odd. The bolt threads in fine, but it can maybe hold 5 ft lbs and it skips

Bandit > My bird IS the word 04/28/2020 at 08:24

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Wow t hat’s a throw back to 7 years ago when m y car had spun and rusty cage nu ts. You want them to be caged so you can shift them around a bit to align the subframe, but mainly the factory caged them because it wouldn’t fit the assembly line to have a tool working on the fastener from both sides. So you could probably get away with a big flat washer and a normal nut if you don’t close up the hole in your floor before the subframe is aligned.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/i-made-cage-nuts-1450291927

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/another-sort-of-stupid-question-1449646092

Michael > My bird IS the word 04/28/2020 at 09:08

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Seems to me like a “caged nut” allows for some misalignment or manufacturing variation of the subframe.  How about this, when you have the subframe “bolted up”, put a normal nut up there and weld it on, so it loses that degree of freedom, but it’s properly located to your subframe?

My bird IS the word > Bandit 04/28/2020 at 09:59

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My concern is when the subframe will have to come completely off in order to get it sanded/painted later. Tbh it sounds like the easiest method though.

My bird IS the word > Michael 04/28/2020 at 10:01

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That would be the easiest way, my concen is some hypothetical "down the line" that will likely never happen

Victorinoo > My bird IS the word 04/28/2020 at 18:39

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Paint the captive nut, maybe it’s spinning in place

My bird IS the word > Victorinoo 04/28/2020 at 18:57

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No that is what I originally expected, but it definitely is not.