2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Stripped Stabilizer Bar Clamp bolt/nut

[TBora]

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb. #@$%!



Last year I installed a DSS steering stabilizer and a front end hitch. No big problems. Well tonight I was under the truck and it looked like one of the stabilizer bar clamp bolts was loose (these bolts also hold the DSS and hitch). Well without referring to the torque value book, I proceeded to tighten the bolt…… yep I stripped it. I have not removed it yet to see if it’s the bolt or the nut…. But most likely the nut.



Question: What the best way to fix this problem. Virtually no access to the frame welded nut. I’d like to find a fix that only requires removing the bolt…. . I’d rather not remove the whole DSS and hitch.



Would an over length bolt threaded thru the stripped nut and threaded into a nut that is somehow fished into the area be feasible. I think I could get the nut started…. But not sure about keeping it from spinning while tightening the bolt.



I guess a fix that involves removing the DSS and hitch would use a helicoil type process. I’ve never done one, but I guess I could learn.



Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[charlessmith]

Always such fun! Installing helicoils is not a problem if you have the right tools that come with the kit.



My thoughts on using a second nut that you fished into the area, got it started, and maybe even got it sort of tight. Think of how you could (NOT) remove it a couple years later! If you got it sort of tight now, add a little rust and you would be removing it with a cutting torch.



I'd go for a helicoil or if you can't do that at least use a stainless bolt and nut.

 

[Davcruz]

I had this same issue on my old 1500, the nuts inside the frame rail rust and will come apart of you use air tools or over torque them. I drilled out the offending stripped nut and dropped a new bolt down from the inside with a socket affixed to it using the old tried and true electrical tape on the bolt head trick, I had a swivel on the socket and an extension on the swivel and I wrapped electrical tape around all of that also, to keep it from coming apart, then I just ran a nut up from the outside.

I thought about the helicoil, but that requires threads to work and the nut was basically falling apart, would not accept threads.

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[TBora]

Thanks guys for the ideas.



I’ve decided to pull the DSS and Hitch completely off and take a real good look at my options. I’ll test the idea of putting a bolt in there like Davcruz did. I’ll do the helicoil if I think I won’t be able to get the socket back in there in the future like CharlesSmith mentioned.



Since I don’t know much about helicoils. I’m a little worried if I will be able to tell if there is enough nut wall thickness left. Rust is not a problem in my case.



To mentally help me out, I am going to replace all the stabilizer bushings with urethane. That way I can tell myself that I am not wasting my time. :-laf

 

[RStankevitz]

well if you put the bolt down thru getting a socket on it in the future isnt really that big a deal just torch it off and push the remainder of the bolt up into the frame,

 

[Davcruz]

Just FYI, I have had this apart on my 1500 several times since having to drop the bolt down through it. I have been able to get a socket back on it with "relative" ease. Not saying a few obscenities may not have been uttered though.