So I got these subframe bush inserts for the GT86. It's supposed to tighten up the rear end and power delivery as the standard ones are made of blancmange.

It's pretty easy to fit: support the subframe with a jack. Undo the bolts. Drop the subframe enough to squeeze in the inserts. Do it back up. It's the last bit that's causing me problems. Right side is fine; left side got increasingly stiff until now it's about an inch short and I need a breaker bar to move it either way. I guess it didn't quite go in straight.

So now I'm stuck. I don't know whether to try to struggle on to get it done up, or to try to get the bolt undone.

Any suggestions?

 

It sounds like you're chewing the thread up. Ideally you need to remove the bolt, repair the thread that's in the car if possible and then fit a new undamaged bolt.

 

The problem is it's barely budging when I try to undo it, and I think I'm going to break something (possibly me) using this much force.

 

You might end up shearing the bolt off yet! It's difficult to know which way to go, but you've got to take it one way or the other. If you wind it it you need to be sure it's doing its job once it's in, but how can you tell as it's tight before it even clamps the subframe?

I'd take it out, or try to anyway as I wouldn't trust it any other way. It could be difficult to repair the threadthat's in the car though, it depends what the access is like and how badly damaged it is.

 

Pushed forward and nearly got it all the way in and then broke my socket extension bar off in the socket. Found another one and broke that too.

 

Where did you buy them from, Cadburys?

 

Halfords, so yes.

Better than breaking the bolt.

 

You've crossed the thread. I would want it out and fixed. A good air wrench will get it out but the repair is the pain

 

Yeah, when I put the lower brace on the S2K, the body & frame must've moved slightly since I had to be quite imaginative with a couple of jacks not to get one of the threads crossed.

Use plenty of Plus Gas, pull it back out carefully (back & forth a bit) & see if you can clean up the threads. You might need to work the bolt in back & forth with nothing attached, to true up the threads.

Ypu might be lucky, if you've not mullered them too much. Otherwise some sort of helicoil might be needed.

 

Yes I had the same thing fitting the lower front brace on the S2K.

I've found the thread on FT86club.com now with people with the same problem. Strangely nobody mentions it on the DIY instruction thread. I think I need to lower the front of the subframe a bit to get it straight again, though I'm thinking at this stage I'm going to have to find a professional to transport it to and hope they don't laugh at me too much.

I'm not incompetent honest.