Hello all!



Passenger side front wheel
This is the third time I have tightened this screws only to find it completely undone again. The car clunks and pulls dangerously to one side Both times I have retightened it all the symptoms have gone away. Why does it keep on getting this loose?? Is there a nut that is missing its extremely dangerous!

Please help

 

I would apply some blue or red "locktite" before retightening.

 

I would think you're probably missing a nut on the other end of that

 

Spike, that bolt should thread into something. You should have a nut that is welded in place on the other side of that joint. Like was mentioned, applying some Loc-tite would be advisable. You will find that it comes in 2 colors, red and blue. They have completely different properties. Blue is the low temp stuff and it does a pretty good job of making it so a bolt will not back itself out. It is good for if you need to undo the joint later.

Now you have the red stuff. One drop will go a long, LONG!!!!!! way. This is meant to make it so it will not come apart again. Really the only way to get the bolt out again in the future would be to apply a propane torch (if not an oxy-acetelyne torch) to get the threads hot which will cause the red stuff to loosen its grip and allow you to remove the bolt.

If you need more assistance, let me know. I deal with the Loc-tite products a lot in my line of work as we have things that need to not come apart when in operation. Something about 1000 psi steam coming free being a bad, bad thing.

 

Thanks guys,

I retightened before I could read the loc tite suggestions. The nut is where it's supposed to be. I retightened and the clunking and pulling and swerving is gone, but I still don't understand how it could get that loose. The bolt was just hanging in place this time, I was able to pull it completely of before I tightened it.

 

Spike hi mate,
Is the thread worn on the nut or is something twisted? Good Luck I'm glad we have Chris (Thermo to help out! Genius!)
Stu

 

Spike, if you are wondering how the bolt comes loose, look at what it is doing. You have the car under load (ie, pressing the rubber bushing into the bolt) and that is applying a frictional force to the bolt. So, as the suspension is compressed, it just so happens to apply a twisting force to the bolt. In this case, it is in the direction of removing the bolt. Then as the tire moves back to the normal position, the weight of the car is not on the bolt as much. Therefore, less friction, not as much twisting action on the bolt, so the net effect is the bolt is rotated slightly in the outward direction. This is where the Loc-tite comes in (or a good amount of torque on the bolt). You need the friction holding the bolt in place to be more than what the bushing is applying to the bolt. In this case, the bushing slides over the bolt and the bolt remains in place.

 

Pull the bolt out, clean it extremely good with some gas, or break parts cleaner and a tooth brush. Apply 1 DROP of red locktight, screw it back in and BAMO, no more problems.