Am trying to locate where I can access the top of the bolts that hold the axle on, so I can remove nuts as the bolt is turning? I have looked in boot but cannot see any access from here. The axle was sheared off when hit while parked. Does anyone know if its easy to replace a rear dead axle.
Technical Replacing rear dead axle
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Technical Replacing rear dead axle
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It might be a weld nut inside the body panel that's has sheared off the panel. The safest way to shift these is to run some arc weld onto the bolt head. This heats it up and "breaks" the any seizure between the threads. Ideally get some Plus-Gas in there too but its not so easy when its all tucked away inside the panels.
The one thats spinning might have to be burnt off with an oxy gas torch. But at least the same torch can heat up the other bolts. A mobile welder should be able to help.
Then there's the little problem of a loose nut rattling about and no nut to take the new bolt.
The one thats spinning might have to be burnt off with an oxy gas torch. But at least the same torch can heat up the other bolts. A mobile welder should be able to help.
Then there's the little problem of a loose nut rattling about and no nut to take the new bolt.
Thanks for reply. Should have given more detail but new to this. The axle was sheared off on drivers side and on inspection I can see one bolt definitely missing, the other two still have nuts on but bent. So I can get to the top of bend bolts to take the nuts off and how do I replace the missing bolt. Seen rear axles on ebay and it looks like they are held on by about 5 bolts each side and so basically I want to know how are the bolts fixed from chassis to axle. Hope this makes sense.
Thanks
Thanks
The first reply was correct.
There are no nuts on these bolts. They are bolted into threaded inserts inside the rails.
Its going to need some sort of gas axe work to get the bent ones out, if one is already turning you might need to open the rail, get it out and weld the rail back up again.
Cheers
SPD
There are no nuts on these bolts. They are bolted into threaded inserts inside the rails.
Its going to need some sort of gas axe work to get the bent ones out, if one is already turning you might need to open the rail, get it out and weld the rail back up again.
Cheers
SPD
As you can tell I am not an expert so forgive me if I am asking obvious questions. What are the rails you are referring to, I dont quite understand? What I can see is where one bolt has come clean away I am left with what looks like a hole with a white plastic sleeve inside, would I be right in thinking that inside that sleeve is a thread. If that bolt has been ripped out by the force of impact would it have damaged the internal thread? One of the other bolts that I can see see hanging down which is now bent looks like it has two nuts and one washer on the end.
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Thanks
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Sort out where the captive nuts are. You might have to get to the other side with a hole saw, fit/weld in new captive nuts and weld a plate over the hole(s).
When its done, you must get the chassis checked on a proper alignment rig. With a bash like that its sure to be bent. You'll need to factor this into the project costs.
The costs of things like this can write-off a car.
Its the same issue with captive bolts. Don't risk straightening the old ones as they could fail and leave you upside down in a ditch (or worse).
BTW Always use a good quality anti seize paste on the threads (from an engineering factors) not the cheapo stuff sold in most car shops.
When its done, you must get the chassis checked on a proper alignment rig. With a bash like that its sure to be bent. You'll need to factor this into the project costs.
The costs of things like this can write-off a car.
Its the same issue with captive bolts. Don't risk straightening the old ones as they could fail and leave you upside down in a ditch (or worse).
BTW Always use a good quality anti seize paste on the threads (from an engineering factors) not the cheapo stuff sold in most car shops.
The rails to which I refer are what I would call chassis rails, although you don't have a chassis as such.
They are the strengthening box sections welded to the bottom of the monocoque.
As suggested, either drill or cut a hole in the side of the box section where the bolt goes in, which will allow you to grab the insert with a set of moles.
Once you have got all the bolts out, and any inserts that you need to remove, fabricate plates to go back inside the rails, weld nuts to them, then weld the rails closed.
Cheers
SPD
They are the strengthening box sections welded to the bottom of the monocoque.
As suggested, either drill or cut a hole in the side of the box section where the bolt goes in, which will allow you to grab the insert with a set of moles.
Once you have got all the bolts out, and any inserts that you need to remove, fabricate plates to go back inside the rails, weld nuts to them, then weld the rails closed.
Cheers
SPD
