Author Topic: water pump bolt thread stripped! WTF (Read 4081 times)

nomad · « **on:** August 01, 2008, 03:20:28 PM »

So pissed at this super weak thread issue. Dang threads pulled right out of the hole and now I've got to helicoil it. Might do the others since I'm doing it anyhow. A simple water pump change turns into a PITA job...

Welcome to M42 life...

EN318isPDX · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2008, 03:27:23 PM »

Quote from: nomad;54153

So pissed at this super weak thread issue. Dang threads pulled right out of the hole and now I've got to helicoil it. Might do the others since I'm doing it anyhow. A simple water pump change turns into a PITA job...

Welcome to M42 life...

Not just M42... more like Welcome to the life of DIY BMW

tjts1 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2008, 03:34:58 PM »

I feel your pain. Every single bolt i've been able to find on this engine is at least 1-2mm smaller than it would be otherwise be on my volvos. Also have you noticed whenever they use a nut and bolt to hold together a piece of the suspension, both the nut and the bolt are the same size. You essentially need 2 identical tool sets to work on this car. Stupid.

EN318isPDX · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2008, 03:37:17 PM »

Quote from: tjts1;54155

I feel your pain. Every single bolt i've been able to find on this engine is at least 1-2mm smaller than it would be otherwise be on my volvos. Also have you noticed whenever they use a nut and bolt to hold together a piece of the suspension, both the nut and the bolt are the same size. You essentially need 2 identical tool sets to work on this car. Stupid.

They use smaller bolts to save weight... reason our cars costed so much when they were new.. oh ya and all the allllllimeeeenium

nomad · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2008, 04:09:40 PM »

Damn aluminum bolt idea... didn't pan out.

I suppose i'll get good at helicoil as I'm sure the next thing I work on will be the same.

I hear you on the double/same fastener issue. What I usually do is use a ratchet on one, and a wrench on the other. This way there's no need for double use.

But now that I have more sockets and ratchets and a few sets of ratcheting wrenches it's never been easier. I even just found an 18mm gearwrench in the back of a 7 series at the junkyard. It slotted in nicely with my set of gearwrenches that went from 17mm to 19mm

nomad · « **Reply #5 on:** August 02, 2008, 10:10:54 AM »

Used a drywall screw and it's working fine.

nomad · « **Reply #6 on:** August 02, 2008, 09:06:36 PM »

ok, not really.
I got a helicoil kit at autozone ($27!) and repaired the thread. Had to take the rad out and bend the AC condenser out of the way to get the dang drill in there.

It's in for now. I just need to hook up the fan and I'm all set.

Jimmy Lewis · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2008, 11:54:13 PM »

Gotta love "easy" repairs on e30's. Removing the worn out pressure plate on my flywheel ended up being a total pain in the ass. After dealing with all of the torx bolts when removing the trans and starter, those soft allen-head bolts threw me for a loop. Went out and bought a socket adapted allen to get them out, thinking if I put my 3ft breaker bar on there these will come out no problem, no go, stripped 3. Break out the impact with the same allen socket, and of course it broke right in half. Finally just cut them off. I learned a lesson though, if something is going to be thrown out anyway, cut it off. Its like stripping an interior and making sure every clip is unharmed, screw it, rip it out and be done with it. Haha, its late, sorry guys.

doitover · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2008, 12:27:11 PM »

When putting helicoils into aluminum you can skip the drill step and just tap to the new size.

Quote from: nomad;54214

ok, not really.
I got a helicoil kit at autozone ($27!) and repaired the thread. Had to take the rad out and bend the AC condenser out of the way to get the dang drill in there.

It's in for now. I just need to hook up the fan and I'm all set.

Schwarz_Bomber · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2008, 02:29:55 PM »

has anyone came across a way to make these threads stronger? One hole for the thermostat housing is stripped, as well as the top right for my waterpump. sure, a hexcoil will do, but is there another approach to strengthen the threads itself for stronger bolts and threads?