think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

[GT-N]

ok larry banstanza, andrie hartanta or anyone!
when trying to install my comptech harness bar

i had no problems with it besides using a rubber mallet to help fit it in cause it was so tight

when i tried to unbolt the allen bolt yesterday i could tighten it a little and when i loosened it it would turn in the same spot and wouldn't come out

now today i can't tighten or losen it

i need to get this bolt out!
help

also i think i need to rethread the chasis where this bolts go, cause i think i cross threaded it

i tried to pull the bolt with a screw driver and losen it, maybe i didn't try hard enough
here some pics of the problem..

thanks god the passenger side is ok
*knock *knock* on wood

 

[speed within reach]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

I've had this happen myself once, and this is a frequent problem with customers whom install the CT harness bar, especially if they are taking it in and out a lot before or after track events. The problem stems from the fact that the design of the bar lends itself to limited off-axis positioning after one side is in, and due to its bulk and design- frequently users get that second bolt cross-threaded into the receptacle on the chassis as it is hard to judge at times.

With enough stress, the threaded aluminum receptacle physically separates from the inside of the chassis, where it is completely inaccessible inside the B-Pillar. That is never a good thing being that anchor point is primary for the seat belts, and thus can be a genuine safety issue.

IMO, if you cannot salvage that safely... you may well have to remove the hardware entirely and go into repair mode which is a little more involved than many expect- since the aluminum is fairly thin in that spot, with a broken receptacle there will be no way to simply re-tap it.

Best Regards,

John

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

I disagree with John on implying that the design of the bar is the cause. IMHO, the cause is due to the installer not mechanically inclined.

I do agree that there is no easy way to simply re-tap it once it is broken.

 

[1TITENSX]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

Since we are saying you can't retap, is it possible to add a nut on the other side of the b-pillar? That is if someone can get their hand through the opening to the other side. What do you think about this idea?

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

Sounds to me like this issue occured during the initial run in of the bolts. The bar was probably not aligned properly, and the bolt was run in. I believe this is why the bar has a right and left half, so you can (only slightly) narrow the bar up to get it in, then put the smaller bolts in the center top rail.

However, all that is moot now. You are just going to have to work the bolt out any way you can. As far as repair, if the threads are damaged, you need to find a good welder. They can fill the damaged hole with aluminum, then it will need to be rethreaded. This might be a great application for that stuff I see advertised called "alumalloy" that melts with propane, but I am not a metalurgist(can't even spell it) so let the welder advise on this.

You might want to private Joe Lomoriello (pbassjo) about this, he is surely up on this aspect of repair.

Sorry I do not have better news.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[ScienceofSpeed]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

The Comptech bar is sleeved at several points to allow the bar to be installed properly. Make sure to loosen the bolts at both the vertical and horizontal points before installing into the B-pillar seat belt anchor.

The captive nut that this point threads into is hardened steel. If you used the correct bolt with the correct thread pitch to secure the harness bar, I would be really surprised if you were able to cross thread it with only the allen key you show. This would require a large amount of force. Since the captive nut is floating, I think it's possible that the bolt has moved the nut and leveraged itself against the pillar. Try loosening all the adjustment points and shaking the bar to center it in the pillar.

I'd also recommend getting an allen socket to do this work rather than the allen key. It will make life much easier. The thread in the b-pillar is an SAE thread, so you'll need an SAE allen socket.

Good luck,
-- Chris

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

Good Advice Chris, I did not know the threaded area was steel. So maybe the bolt is just hung up due to misalignment and the bar needs to be completely loosened up.

LarryB

 

[ScienceofSpeed]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

Larry -- I hope so too. Replacing that captive cut would require cutting and welding of the body.

Cheers,
-- Chris

 

[GT-N]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

The Comptech bar is sleeved at several points to allow the bar to be installed properly. Make sure to loosen the bolts at both the vertical and horizontal points before installing into the B-pillar seat belt anchor.

The captive nut that this point threads into is hardened steel. If you used the correct bolt with the correct thread pitch to secure the harness bar, I would be really surprised if you were able to cross thread it with only the allen key you show. This would require a large amount of force. Since the captive nut is floating, I think it's possible that the bolt has moved the nut and leveraged itself against the pillar. Try loosening all the adjustment points and shaking the bar to center it in the pillar.

I'd also recommend getting an allen socket to do this work rather than the allen key. It will make life much easier. The thread in the b-pillar is an SAE thread, so you'll need an SAE allen socket.

Good luck,
-- Chris

Chris:
so basically you do not think i broke the floating nut thats on the other side of the b pillar?

yea i will go buy a SAE allen socket tommorow when I have time

Larry:
i know the design of the bar was adjustable for prop install
but if you installed one your self honestly it is pain in the @$$ to adjust to get the proper alignment

alumaalloy looks like a pretty neat trick to solve this problem, question is finding a good shop in Virginia Beach, VA

Andrie Hantato:
I do not believe the cause of this flaw was the installer not being mechanically inclined. The design and the position I had to bolt in the allen bolt was very diffucult. I had to hold the bar in the best position possible to bolt it in


ok,

i just got off the phone with John Hudak from SWR
he's a great guy and gave me all the advice that a sales representative can give
hopefully i can find a shop that can reinforce the aluminum so we can add some extra threads to the chasis, wonder how the back of the bolt is going to be secured

all in all according to Chris, he does not think I messed ujp the floating nut ( I HOPE) when i have time this week I will be able to resolve the problem..

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

Please disregard my comments about the "Alumalloy" I thought the threaded part was Aluminum. I agree the Comptech Bar is a real PITA. I have a car that I had to remove the ECU and the CT bar was in there, and it was difficult to remove, even loosen for that matter.

Take out every small stainless bolt holding the bar assembly together and see if it will loosen up.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[GT-N]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

heres wat it looks like with the outside b pillar off

Larry Banstanza:

according to some people i think the threaded part is aluminum which is threaded to the chasis and the floating nut is hardend steel?
sigh i dunno i had a long rough morning trying to figure this out

after this lesson learned

 

[ScienceofSpeed]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

The floating nut is not visible / accessible from the outside. It is on a tab that is spot welded to the inner b-pillar before it is seam welded to the outer chassis of the car. To get to it, you'd have to cut the welds on the inside of the car, or cut the outside pillar cover (which I think would be easier) to then get to the nut. Hopefully, it is just a binding issue. The threads are steel (the size, thread, and material is specified by DOT).

Cheers,
-- Chris

 

[KGP]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

This might be a great application for that stuff I see advertised called "alumalloy" that melts with propane...

Please disregard my comments about the "Alumalloy" I thought the threaded part was Aluminum.

It might not be applicable here, but good for future reference! Thanks, LB. :wink:
Website for Alumalloy

[additional keywords for search purposes:] weld

 

[GT-N]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

went to an auto shop today recommended by Ty (1TITENSX)

and the guy there said the only way we can work this out is to

make a small incision right near the floating nut so we can get ahold of it, peel it back to gain access
when they cut the allen bolt off the other end can be taken out

use a molley type bolt (i think thats what they call it) , where its like a clip with 2 holes on then end of them and thread those to the right spec, so i can still screw and unscrew from the outside

and weld the small incision back together.. and wa la?!

 

[GT-N]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

ok guys got my car back from the shop
it is now fixed
what they did was take the bolt out
cut a small incision near the floating nut like i said
it happened to be that the floating nut was never broken, it was turned sideways, so when i bolted it in it cross threaded it
so they rethreaded it, and bolted it back

for some reason when i told them to put the stock upper seat anchors on, they couldn't put the inner b pillar cover back on
so now im riding the car with no covers..
im kind of used to it.. but eventually i'll find a way to cover it

 

[GT-N]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

I disagree with John on implying that the design of the bar is the cause. IMHO, the cause is due to the installer not mechanically inclined.

I do agree that there is no easy way to simply re-tap it once it is broken.

i never got to respond to your comment, but I have put on my shocks and springs, taken a rotary motor out of my RX-7, and did a full install on a exhaust system from the turbo back and alot of other maintanence stuff. So i belive I am mechanically inclined to install something, such as a harness bar.

It is VERY easy to cross-thread the threads in the chasis with the way the comptech bar is designed.

Now I have a GT-Rom harness bar.

 

[95 CRUZER]

Re: think i crossthreaded my comptech allen bolt to chasis where rear pilar trim panel is

Just a word of caution, weather it's for this problem or some other problem that requires tapping aluminum. Always use a tapping fluid that is safe for aluminum use. Most tapping fluids will really muck up the threads if used on aluminum. Were talking about disolving the medal.