Does anyone have any solutions to a not so common problem? The top two holes that hold the rear strut on my driver's side are stripped. Dealership quoted me 5-6k to fix it via body shop. They suggested taking out the current section via weld and welding back in a new part with new holes.

I will probably bring it to a independent body shop as well to see what they think. Just wanted to see if anyone has had this similar problem and what they ended up doing to fix it.

 

I'd be asking how it got stripped in the first place? If you did it, shame on you. If they did it, it's their problem...

 

Ha ha ha! What a ripoff!

Helicoil the two holes. 30 dollars

 

2nd that! Shame on that dealer

 

I was thinking that too but not sure if there's enough room for a drill to fit in there.

 

They make "right-angle" drills, both pneumatic and electric. The threads are then tapped by hand. It can be done.

 

Would it also be possible to just retap to a larger bolt size?

 

Can't the threaded holes be replaced with washers and nuts? The washer to spread the load onto the mount area, and nuts to clamp it all together?
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No I believe it's a boxed in section. Actually, to save those quoted thousands, you could cut away the boxed section long enough to weld in bolts on the back side to thread into, and then weld new sheet metal.

The Helicoil idea might work as well, depending on how much meat there is on those threaded bores. Remember that these bolts are not loaded unless the car is off the ground, so unless you are jumping busses Evil Kneive-style, you should be okay with Helicoil.

 

You're right. I stripped out the interior and it's a double panel.