Subframe bolt. WAS: bad puppy fixed

[cobram at juno.com]

 When this happened on my 5KS, I spun the old subframe bolt with an air
gun until the captive nut in the frame was cleaned up enough to allow a
new bolt through it.  Then through a VERY small hole/slit already present
in the frame, I maneuvered a new hex nut in there (with a magnetic tool
and other devices) and then caught a few threads with the new subframe
bolt.  This was on a rack lift, so I had the luxury of putting as much
pressure as possible on the subframe with the jack.  With a long
screwdriver applying pressure to the nut through the frame hole, hit the
subframe bolt with an air gun and it tightened right up.  The subframe
bolts are long enough to go through the old captive nut (really a
threaded piece of flat steel) and catch the new nut on top.

YMMV, since I have no experience with a VW QSW, but would assume it's
similar.

It was NOT an easy fix, I remember swearing that I would JUNK the car
before I'd go through this again.  I was very tempted to cut a hole in
the frame, but like you, I was reluctant, not just for structural reason,
but the PITA factor.  Your PITA factor may be less on the drivers side, 
just about everything they could fit, they did fit on the passenger side
of the 5KS.  I went as far as buying a replacement OEM nut or two,
they're around here somewhere....

BCNU,
http://www.geocities.com/cobramsri/
Hit any key to continue, or any other key to quit.


L DC <ldc007usa at yahoo.com> writes:

> The front most, driver side subframe nut, hidden
> inside the chasis of my '85 VW QSW, got either
> stripped or scored when I removed it. The screw was
> literally rust welded to the hidden nut as well as the
> metal part of the bushing it runs through.
> 
> When I tried to screw the bolt back in following a
> clutch job, it wouldn't screw in. So it got literally
> screwed, or should I say unscrewed.
> 
> I still have to fix it!!
> 
> I can only think of 3 ways of fixing it:


> 2. Weld a long enough threaded bolt on to the hidden
> nut that would run through the bushing to which a
> second nut can be screwed.
> 
> 3. Drill a hole in the chasis to R&R the hidden nut
> but would this cause some structural liability?
> 
> How the heck did they install that hidden nut inside
> the chasis?
> 
> I looked and looked around the area and did not see
> any access to R&R the hidden nut.
> 
> Any input is trully appreciated, as always.