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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
I was putting on my superlift extended radius arms on my x yesterday and like a dumbass i hammered on top of the threaded end and mushroomed the end. So now the threads are messed up and the nut wont go on. I figured a tap and die set should work. What do you think? Any ideas? And if the tap and die set would work, where can I get one big enough to fit the bolt.
-Thanks,
Nick
Your best bet is to head up to your local Orchard, Home Depot or other Hardware store with the nut that you need to match to and the length of the bolt and see what they have. I would choose Orchard first only because they have a very wide selectetion of bolts and sizes. Just make sure you get Grade 8.
If you can't find it there, at lease use their guides to figure out what the exact threading is on the bolts you have already, then go to http://www.mcmaster.com . This is an online supply store and they have EVERYTHING (well, just about). With knowing the threading and the length you can go under their "Machine Screws" section and pick up exactly what you need. It may take a couple of days to get, but it will ensure your suspension doesn't fall out from under you due to fatigue or some ghetto rigging.
Just my .02, but if my life's involved I try to do things the right way first.
I've found a store called Fastenal to be superb when dealing with replacement bolts/nuts. They can get anything you need, and even custom work them like add threads, etc.
Depending on how much is mushroomed and how far down the stud the threads are damaged, you may be alright. If it is just the first few threads then don't worry to much about it. To me it sounds like you just messed up the first few and its preventing you from threading on the nut. What you want to do is either, get what is called a thread file, which will match the thread pitch and allow you to basically file the threads and repair them enough to run the nut on or a die, or using a small file, work it through the threads and try to reshape them enought to, again, run the nut on or a die. The thread files are a wonderful tool when repairing damaged threads, but make sure you get the right one as there are many different thread pitches. Once the Radius arms are installed and torqued to spec the nut will thread down the stud some ways and the damaged portion will probably stick out some and not even be used. Good luck.
Dan
Thanks for the help. Not too many of the threads are messed up. It just the first thread and it looks like a little of the second. Sorry, i dont have a camera so i cant post a pic. And also, where can i get a thread file at?
Thansk again for the help,
Nick Good
Hi Nick,
Well most hardware stores will have a thread file, or atleast should sell them. Where ever you can buy hand tools, although maybe a specialty tool place might be the place, phone around, im sure you will have no trouble finding one, then just take the nut with you when you go to purchase it so you get the right one. Because its just the first few threads, using the thread file try and work the damaged threads back to normal or close enough to it where you can thread on the nut. Don't even worry about using a die, it doesn't sound that bad. The thread file is easy enough to use, im sure you will see how it works by looking at it, but don't attempt to take it all out at once, start at a good section of the thread and slowly work it into the damaged section. Take your time and it will work out! Let me know if you have any questions about it when you get the thread file. Good luck.
Dan
Exactly what Infragate said and you will be fine. Or you can probably save even more money and just buy a triangular shaped file that will fit in between the threads and because the radius arms have course threads you can hog on it and you won't mess anything up and you should be just fine. Use common sense.
