X-Brace install help please!!!

[Kaliimc]

Before I ask my question(s) it needs to be said that I've read about every post on this board regarding the install of an x-brace, plus my wife and I have read/reviewed/printed many different sources regarding the install.

My problem first started when Lowes at about 20 miles away, did not have the suggested parts the www.understeer.com (http://www.understeer.com) website listed. But that was expected and minor. Found the parts at a local hardware store a mile from the house... So I bought the allen bolt, nut, washers, lock-tite blue and red, etc. I read the instructions word for word many times. Many.

So during my attempt today I was reading the instructions again, during the "attempt" to ensure it was done correctly because I have a tendancy to skip steps. What I think happened was the lock-tite was a little too tight on the allen bolt so it ended up I could not hold it as per instructions while turning the nut with open end wrench. I only placed a drop of the lock-tite on the bolt, just like the instructions said.

Could the lock-tite have caused this problem? Has anyone else ran into this issue before? Can one install the nutserts without lock-tite? After about an hour of wrenching on this thing, the allen bolt head finally broke off into my hand with the rest of the bolt nicely tucked into the nutsert, which was loosely, but snugly tucked in its hole on the car. Ended up drilling out the bolt from the nut, washer, nutsert combo that was stuck in the hole. Ruined the nutsert and need another one. Can that be a local purchase normally? Probably not in my case.

How can you tell when the nutsert is "in"? How far does the nut travel up the allen bolt until the nutsert should be fully collapsed in the whole? The instructions say to hold the bolt/nutsert in the whole and don't let it turn, I have a permanent dent in my hand now because of this step and it still turned!!!

Any ideas of what I did wrong guys? Again, I read the directions word for word from the understeer.com website, the one most agree is the best set of instructions out there. Get to go back to the store tomorrow and buy more allen bolts and nuts. It's getting to where it would have been cheaper to have an indy shop do this for me.

Alright, thanks for listening, hope this makes sense to you, I need another beer because I'm frustrated right now. One person posted awhile back that it took him 30 minutes to install!!! Where's that beer?

[mohaughn]

Those nutserts are a royal pain in the butt. If I had to guess the only issue was probably that the nutsert was not fully seated.

You can buy replacement nutserts at a BMW dealer. What I did was to use AKG nutserts that are ribbed on the exterior. They grab and hold much better than the BMW nutserts that are flat on the outside. Even then, I still had issues..

Ended up I had to have one of the nutserts tack welded into place to keep it from slipping so that you could expand it in place and have it hold...

[Kaliimc]

Thanks mohaughn, I'll go down today, see if they stock them here and get a few extras, just in case.

[Mallard]

the nutserts are a bugger.

the best way is to open them up just a touch, then ease the bolt our without disturbing the nutsert. (easier said than done)

Monkey wrench and a bolt on a torque wrench is the preferd wepons of choice..

Hold the nutsert as tight to the frame as poss. then using the torque wrench as it has much more leverage, ease the bolt in until the nutsert grips. Then bolt out and have the brace ready for install.

Sounds easy but its not.

[mohaughn]

I think I ended up ruining a few of them, and had to buy some more from another member that had some extras...

If you really have problems, you can coat the exterior of the nutsert with locktight and then jam it in to the hole and hold it there long enough for the locktite to setup. This way, there is less chance that the nutsert will spin as you try to back out the nut that locks it in place. The nutsert spinning and not seating properly was the biggest problem that I had. If you can find somebody that has a nutsert puller, the actual tool you are supposed to use, that will make the whole effort much easier. Maybe a tool shop or automotive store by you rents that kind of stuff?

You should be able to tell when the nutsert is properly seated as it will be really tight in the hole. You won't be able to spin it or rock it back and forth at all.

[aceyx]

If you can find somebody that has a nutsert puller, the actual tool you are supposed to use, that will make the whole effort much easier. Maybe a tool shop or automotive store by you rents that kind of stuff?
AVK makes a cheap tool to install their rivet nuts, usually available at aircraft suppliers.

Considering he's on an island, should be relatively easy to track one down.

[Kaliimc]

Thanks for your help guys, I was able to order some nutserts from BMW of Honolulu, they should arrive in about a week. I think I'll try the lock-tite on the outside of the nutsert method to see where that gets me. But in the mean time while waiting for the nutserts to arrive, I'll search around for a tool.

[aceyx]

While you're waiting, you might also try using a normal hex-head bolt using a socket to hold it. Should be a better grip than an allen key. Just get the bolt a little longer so it can fit all the way into the socket.

[Kaliimc]

While you're waiting, you might also try using a normal hex-head bolt using a socket to hold it. Should be a better grip than an allen key. Just get the bolt a little longer so it can fit all the way into the socket.

Update:

This is what I ended up doing with amazing results. I had been wondering why folks have been using the allen bolt instead of the normal hex-head bolt. I found some 8X35 size bolts from the local hardware store this morning, went to the Army auto skill center at Ft. Shafter and at about 10:00am started to lift the car, at 10:30 the car was done.

The keys to my successfully completing this task are/were:

1. everyone here that posted some assistance
2. hex-bolt that allowed a standard sized ratchet to be used instead of the small allen wrench
3. my wife who stayed mad at me (on purpose) until I could get this done

This was one of the easiest things I have done to the car so far.

[ATF]

I found the hardest thing about the nutserts was keeping the damn nutsert in the whole, and flush against the surface. The locktite should only be added like.. a half hour before you start the whole process anyways. Glad you got things squared away.

(I used the allen wrench method, two washers & a nut)

[Mallard]

glas its all sorted ;)

get a pic up mate :)

[aceyx]

This is what I ended up doing with amazing results. I had been wondering why folks have been using the allen bolt instead of the normal hex-head bolt.
As with all advice, if something doesn't make sense to you, do it your own way UNLESS they give a specific reason to do it some other way (i.e. you will break something or there will be a clearance issue of some sort).

Glad everything worked out (and that your wife is no longer mad at you). :biggrin: