Rear shocks

I have completed work on my front end and in the process of replacing my rear shocks. Of course the rear upper bolts broke off. This newsgroup had great advice regarding a repair by drilling thru the rear floor and installing nuts and bolts.(there was a nice link to a homepage) Before I try this I would like to know if anyone has had any luck with a tap.I have drilled out the bolts and the stock bolts are now a bit to small. The bit was 5/16ths. Is a Helicoil strong enought to use ?

If I had them that close, I would certainly pick at them first with the thought of getting the leftovers out. I usually try to use a bit slightly too small and try to just tag one spot of threads. I usually then can spin out the remainder with a pick or small screwdriver and hammer taps.

I also would for sure try the tap before cutting through the floor....

Mike

I think I would feel a lot better about this to enlarge the hole to accept a

What shocks are you using?

I have run into seized and snapped bolts 'way' to often over the years and have gotten really good at drilling them a bit smaller and peeling them out. I very seldom need a tap.... Well I don't own any for repair work, only a couple for manufacture of new things.

The heat that happens and the oil I use while drilling usually breaks the rest of the bolt free, especially if I can make it an exaggerated

An alternator is always one that must be drilled larger from my experience...

Mike

Billy Ray wrote:

Mike, The problem is here that he has already drilled out the old bolt and the stock 5/16" are already too loose. If he does have any threads left the holes will be that much smaller when he gets done.

Ya ya, read it again eh...

I thought the hole was too small, read that arse backward.

There are high strength helicoils, he might be able to tap for one of them.

I don't think he can go bigger because the bolt has to fit the shock sleeve.

Mike

Billy Ray wrote:

Going thru the floor worked well. I wasted a lot of time trying to drill out the bolts,I got a air hammer and popped the weld nut in seconds. One thing I did differently was after popping the weld nuts and lifting the carpet I drilled 4 pilot holes(the bolt holes) from the underside. I then used a hole saw and drilled 4 small holes from the top to drop in the bolts.

Great idea!

What size hole saw?