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kpasko · Joined: 25 Jun 2013 Posts: 35 Location: California

I had the crossmember down to put the oil pan back on, was going through the whole process of gasket sealing, torquing in a crosspattern, etc. Long story short, was running out of time for the day and wanted to quickly get the crossmember back on temporarily so the suspension wasn't just dangling until I could work on it next...stupidly in my rush to just get it on there, I a) slapped on the old locknuts and b) over-torqued or mis-torqued them (even though they should be on about ~63lb-ft I believe...guess I don't know my own strength?)

As should have been expected, today I go to remove them to put fresh nuts on and get them torqued properly, and all but one of them now just spin in place...tried applying heat, and pressure with a screwdriver, neither had any effect. I was thinking of picking up a nut splitter, but not sure i'll be able to get it into the opening in the crossmember... maybe very careful work with a dremel?

Any thoughts on fixing this bonehead move? Thanks in advance.

FUN2DRV · Joined: 07 Dec 2014 Posts: 19 Location: Southest CT

You could try hitting them with an impact wrench, the sudden speed and torque of the impact will usually remove a problem nut/bolt.
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'81 931
'87 944 N/A

Grenadiers · Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 11:02 pm Post subject:

Wow, I've cranked on these puppies quite a bit in the past. You can try a bigger leverage device instead of a screwdriver. Then hit the nut with an impact wrench. Or, remove the control arms, struts, and drill two 1/2 inch holes through the outer side on each box, and mig-weld the bolts back into place. Drill one hole first to see if it would work of course~!
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'83 944 Track car.
'88 924S Track car.
'89 944 Turbo
2004 Winnebago Vectra monster RV
2012 Jeep Wrangler
2014 Kia Soul
2001 Ford F350 powerstroke

kpasko · Joined: 25 Jun 2013 Posts: 35 Location: California

yah, its probably the combination of cranking and very old nuts, a pretty stupid and frustrating mistake.

tried more leverage and a (hand-held) impact driver to no avail. will try nut splitter tonight, see if it will fit...

hoping to avoid having to weld something in, as I don't have a MIG or TIG torch available.

if i can manage to get the nuts off without cutting the bolts, I figure I may be able to just re-thread the bolts, at a smaller size if need be...not sure how safe that would be though...

leadfoot · Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 9:43 am Post subject:

get a nut splitter, remove the a arm for complete access, if you have to cut an access hole in the side of cross member do this as it will be easier to repair than the stud...
if the stud is damaged, you will need to replace but I would speak to someone competent in body repair as this is attached to a structural component...
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1981 ROW 924 Turbo -
carbon fiber GT mish mash
LS1 conversion in progress...