[Digitalfiend]

My Whiteline parts install was going reasonably well until I started on the Whiteline steering rack bushings. I started to undo the passenger side mount bolts and one of them was very stiff to turn. I very careful removed it and then, to my joy, discovered that it was crossthreaded/gnarled up. Obviously, this did some damage to the threads in the crossmember too. Sigh. I aborted my install and ended up using one of the crossmember support bolts to replace the bolt for the passenger steering rack mount. Unfortunately, I couldn't torque it down, it's probably on there with about 20-30ft-lbs. The other bolt is torqued to spec @ 44ft-lb and the driver's side bolts weren't touched.

So what options do I have? Right now I'm thinking it might be possible to use a thread chaser but I have a feeling that's going to be a ***** to find. The only other alternative that I see is to get another crossmember. This is the first time those bolts on the steering rack have been touched, so I suspect it was a factory defect (car hasn't seen a winter yet) and therefore the dealership might be able to warranty it (my dealership is pretty good).

I assume it should be safe to drive the car with one of the passenger side SR bolts only torqued to 25ft-lb, right?

[Turninconcepts.com]

I've had a few bolts on the 08 that didn't quite come out as well as the should the first time. Hell, I had two on the turbo that broke off after only 3000 miles of use. anyway, you should be fine for the time being, but you need to get it taken care of asap. You can try rethreading the hole and using a new bolt. It should be a M10x1.25 or M12x1.25 tap that is needed. If that doesn't work you can do a helicoil kit to get you some new threads. Most of the time I have had this happen though, I just rethread the hole and it's good to go.

Tony

[cky3396]

hey digital, are you using a guide for the rack bushings? if so, which one?

let us know how the bolt situation goes, good luck

[Digitalfiend]

Thanks for the reply Tony. Yeah some of the bolts are really annoying. I was extremely surprised to see metal shavings come falling out. This happened at like 5am and you can imagine my reaction.

Anyhow, I'll try your suggestion. I'm going to see if the dealership has the tool to do that and, if so, will go that route as I've never rethreaded or tapped a hole before (but then again, it can't get much worse than it is now lol).

cky3396,

I wasn't using a guide, other than the Whiteline one that comes with the SR bushings, but as soon as I got under the car I could see what needed to be done. Technically, it should be a relatively straightfoward job, assuming your bolts aren't crossthreaded from the factory or whatever happened to mine. The passenger side should be a breeze and the driver's side might require you to disconnect the input shaft but I didn't get that far. Whiteline gives you a bearing removal tool which might make the task easier.

I'll keep you posted and will put an install guide up once I get around to it.

[VSGTS14]

that sucks freakin machines don't know how to build cars lol.

[water_fiend]

Hey man, I've done a lot of tapping and re-threading. Couple of suggestions: When you go to use the tap, use some cutting fluid...it will help make the threads neater when you're done. Also, only go a turn or two at a time - take your time doing it. Do a turn or two, then back the tap out. This will help to clear out the shavings and chips that you'll get when you're cutting the threads. Since you're going to be cleaning up existing threads, hand start the tap (like you normally would with a bolt). Just make sure you don't end up cross threading the tap, cause then you really will have problems.

Good luck!!

[Digitalfiend]

Thanks for the tips. I still think I'm going to get the dealership to check it out first, since it was a factory flaw.

Thanks again.

[RAE129]

Digital...any progress? Im looking to do this swap out and was wondering how labor intensive it would be?

[Digitalfiend]

Originally Posted by RAE129

Digital...any progress? Im looking to do this swap out and was wondering how labor intensive it would be?

Crossmember swap or steering rack bushing swap?

So far I've had no progress on the stripped bolt hole. My dealership said that those bolts are backordered , so I'm still waiting. My temp bolt seems to be holding up fine for now.

I'll let you know once I get it done. The hardest part about the SR bushings looks like it is going to be on the driver's side but Whiteline includes a little "tool" for removing the bushings. I don't know how effective it will be yet. They also say to unbolt the steering rack, which might require an alignment after...not sure.

[RAE129]

Sorry, I was asking about the steering rack bushing swap and the stripped bolt hole. I was thinking of swapping out the bushings and wanted to see if there was a DIY around. Let me know how you make out.

[EtoS]

+1 to rethreading. It's what the dealer is going to do anyway. I'd recommend you go buy a kit(they're not too expensive) and try it on some old parts you don't ever need to use anymore as practice. Definitely a good thing to have at least incase the dealer starts saying you don't know how to unfasten a bolt or if an important one goes that you need to rethread at 5am