captive nut repair question

[thejimrose]

oh.. i thnk were talikng about 2 different things. my nut issue was on the
rear upper shock mounts for an 98 a4. not a subframe..

thanks =)


On 10/19/06, Ado Sigal <a.sigal at bluewin.ch> wrote:
>
> All the cars with 4 bolts subframe on which the suspension arms are
> connected to, must have provision for susp. geometry adjustment (castor
> angle), and that is why 3 captive nuts are floating (loose) and one is
> fixed. This aprox. 2 mm either way movement, provides adjustment in
> region of 10 - 15 mm on the wheel end. The cars without the subframe
> (where susp. arms attach directly to the body, the attachment points are
> fixed, since the adjustment for castor is via threaded portion of the
> arm rod. Providing your car has the 4 bolt subframe, you can find (and
> loosen non fixed captive nuts), by loosening bolts for a turn or so, and
> hitting them square on with hefty hammer. Providing that there is no
> bolts seized to sub. bush tube, one bolt would produce solid sound while
> other three would not. Fixed nut is usually on the left (driver) side
> rear on the front sub. For the rear I think is the same position, but
> not sure.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Ado
>
> thejimrose wrote:
>
> > better late than never. thanks for the input but.. is that a riddle?
> >  what do you mean 3 are free and 1 is fixed? captive nuts may be a
> > misnomer, on my a4 there are 4 threaded inserts or nuts welded to the
> > back of the panel. none are captive "floating" nuts like in a subframe.
> >
> > i verified this on the other side. apparently later a4's had 3 bolts
> > and a stud supporting the rear upper shock mount. all 4 nuts on the
> > other side of the car are fixed, welded, whatever. a nut attached to
> > the backside of the sheetmetal by a restrictive and unseen force.
> >
> > maybe i'll try the jedi mindtrick...
> >
> > ive actually been driving it on 3 bolts and no worries so far. im sure
> > that 4th bolt was more for the sake of german anal retentive
> > overengineered symmetry than any structural reality.
> >
> >
> > On 10/18/06, Ado Sigal <a.sigal at bluewin.ch <mailto:a.sigal at bluewin.ch>>
> wrote:
> >
> >     Late in thread, but one should note that three captive nuts are
> free,
> >     and one is fixed, as per subframe.
> >
> >     Ado
> >
> >
>
>
>


-- 
nobody ever listened to me until they didn't know who i was.
-banksy