Methods for repairing sway bar bolt holes

[Longroof79]

Yup, I stripped out a bolt hole or two installing my new sway bar. What successful methods have you guys used to repair the stripped out threads?
One side, I was able to use nuts to back up the bolts. The drivers side does not have an access point, except thru the front of the frame horn.
Is there a type of nutsert or something of that nature that you used, and does anyone know of a good source for them.
I tried welding up one of the holes, drilled and retapped it...it pulled out again.. :?

I'm open to suggestions.

 

[565bbchevy]

You could possibly use a steel nutsert and I would try to install a steel flat washer on the blind side that is the same diameter as the nutsert to give it some added strength and thickness when clamping down, I do this on thin metals and plastics, etc.
On my Monte my lower jounce bars stripped out and I just drilled and tapped the hole for the next larger bolt and drilled the bars to match.
If the frame is thin in that area you could weld a nut to a steel plate(with a hole in the center) and recess it into the frame after opening the frame hole up and weld the plate to the frame.
On my Lincoln I put on an aftermarket front sway bar and the instructions had me open up the holes so I could install a U bolt in the frame so the threaded ends were facing down and the mount bolted to that with nuts, first time I had seen a set up like that but worked well.

 

[Longroof79]

Thank you for your suggestions. Using a flat washer to backup the nutsert is a good idea. I did use a sort of a nutsert on one of the holes, and that gave out.
I also think using a flat steel plate with a nut welded to it, plus welding it to the frame is another good idea.
Either way I'll come up with a solution one way or another.

BTW, the U-bolt solution is also a good one.

Thanks again man. I appreciate your input.

 

[joesregalproject]

I just put 2 nuts on the backside of mine where it stripped out. Has held up fine for 100 miles or so.

 

[pontiacgp]

what about installing a stud and locking that on place with loctite...then you can just use nuts on the studs. The other thing you can do is to retap the nut to a larger standard size and use a allen key machine bolt which have smaller heads than a regular bolt.

 

[Longroof79]

I just put 2 nuts on the backside of mine where it stripped out. Has held up fine for 100 miles or so.

Yeah, I pretty much did that on the passenger side. I've had it that way for years.

 

[Longroof79]

what about installing a stud and locking that on place with loctite...then you can just use nuts on the studs. The other thing you can do is to retap the nut to a larger standard size and use a allen key machine bolt which have smaller heads than a regular bolt.

That's a good idea, Steve, only that the one hole had gotten more enlarged. I wish I had thought of that sooner. Normally when you go with the next oversize bolt, the head is also larger...except like you said, an allen head bolt.

The stud idea is good as well. Then use locknuts to secure the sway bar brackets.

 

[joesregalproject]

I just put 2 nuts on the backside of mine where it stripped out. Has held up fine for 100 miles or so.

Yeah, I pretty much did that on the passenger side. I've had it that way for years.

Pardon my ignorance, if I would have read your post a little better, I would have known that. 😳

 

[Longroof79]

I just put 2 nuts on the backside of mine where it stripped out. Has held up fine for 100 miles or so.

Yeah, I pretty much did that on the passenger side. I've had it that way for years.

Pardon my ignorance, if I would have read your post a little better, I would have known that. 😳

Hey, that's okay. I'm guilty of doing the same thing... :lol: It's all good. 🙂

 

[pontiacgp]

Jack, if one of the threads is messed up I modify them all so they are all the same...makes it easier if it needs to be worked on again and IMHO it looks better