240 General: Estate Boot Struts.

[Paul240480]

About a year ago I fitted a new set of struts. Yesterday I noticed that the off-side one was wobbly. The fitting mounted in the pillar had worked loose. Simple I thought get a spanner and nip it back up. It just turns without tightening. I guess there is (was?) a bolt inside the pillar onto which the mount tightened.
As the pillar seems to be completely sealed off I don't know how I can get this sorted, short of welding the mount in place that is!
Any ideas/suggestions?
I guess there must be simple fix for this one that I am just not seeing.
Cheers

[classicracing]

Hi Paul,
No ones answered yet so you know you have a tough one
I have heard of this but have no idea why or how it happens, I think there are very few options
Fabricate some form of tool to stuff down or up the pillar to lock the nut in place while you undo the bolt/pivot
or
Cut out the panel with a sharp chisel replace the nut and mig weld the metal back in place
or
Drill it out and replace the captive nut with a replacement, this can be done from the outside with the right kit, don't buy this but get someone to do it who works for a bodyshop or similar
I would give the first option a go first, give the job some time, don't get ratty with it and think your way through the problem
Don't know if it helps but hey we're thinking of you
Richard

[Mike_Brace]

It is in fact a captive that has come loose. I've come across this problem before. It can be overcome. You need to try to twist the spanner as you tighten so that it pulls the captive on one side against the pillar and stops it turning. If it is very loose a fine screwdriver could be pushed under one edge. This is not guaranteed to work but worth trying first.

Mike

[Clifford Pope]

It depends surely what has caused the captive nut to come loose. In my experience this is generally because the thread has rusted or got so tight that the force necessary to turn the bolt instead breaks the nut out of its cage. In that situation nothing is going to hold the nut well enough.

But if it has simply rattled loose then I can see that a screwdriver or something stuffed down the inside might work. It might even be possible to inject superglue or araldite to hold the nut, as long as you don't glue up the thread too. Could you get a splodge of body filler around the nut, and then pull the bolt outwards while it sets?

[Paul240480]

Thanks to all, you've given me some good suggestions. Will have a go before I 'commit' to welding it or whatever.
Incidently I reckon that it is just vibration over time & the 'strength' of the new struts that have caused it to loosen. The N/S one is still as tight as a 'tight thing'.
Pretty sure I did not attempt to tighten either when I put the new struts on..........maybe a lesson for others in that!

[Paul240480]

Hi I tried all the options. When I began to try to tighten it, at first it felt like it was tightening then I heard a 'click' as if the thread 'popped' out of the captive nut. This was with pressure on to hold the captive nut still.
Had a look through with a maglite & the thread on the pivot has been worn completely. Reckon it must have been loose for longer than I imagined & the movement of it had worn the thread away.

Anyway for now I have used some of that 'Instant Metal' from Pattex (assume you know the stuff) and have squished it in through the hole & then molded a collar around the outside. For the time being I have painted over it with red Hammerite. Once I have some correct Volvo red touch up I shall go over it again.

It is a bit of a 'bodge job' but hey we're not talking concours with my Tank!

Lets hope it holds!
Thanks

[Paul240480]

Instant Metal PAH!

It is now WELDED! LOL