HELP!! - 172 - Top gearbox mount snapped???

[Dan 172]

I've been having a knocking noise pulling away and when stopping, so I just took the battery out and noticed that the top bolt has sheared?

I'm guessing this is the reason for the knocking and creeking i'm getting when pulling away.

Will I be able to get a garage to drill out the bolt, re-tap the theard?

 

[clidge]

s**t mate hope so how do you get to the mount mate and what would you use to tighten it up mine is doing this cheers mate sorry to ask

 

[Fred@BTM]

oops

unbolt the other one, then unbolt the battery tray (4bolts from memory)

then you should be able to unscrew whats left of the bolt

 

[clidge]

how do you get to that picture yoz cos mine is doing this need to know if mine needs tightening up cheers

 

[clidge]

btt

 

[Dan 172]

Cheers Fred, I'll give it ago.

I've got it booked in with SJ Cooks on Thursday, to try and sort out my creeking and knocking problem at low speeds.

I hope it is because of this mount, but I don't think it explains the creeking from the steering.

I've just had enough of it, so i'll just pay the bill to get it sorted.

Clidge, undo the battery terminals, then look down the right hand side of the battery and your see a grey bolt/torx which clamps the base of the battery, undo that and rail attached to airbox.

 

[clidge]

cheers dan and that is it mate and you can get to the mount? what do you need to tighten them up if that is what is the porblem...let us know how you get on buddy cheers for your help

 

[philmots]

This is my job for tomorrow! I'll let you know how it goes

 

[BrianR]

Dan, they are just nuts and bolts. Knock the old, broken one out and get a replacement.
I changed them on my Sons car as they had worked loose, I used "nylock" nuts to stop this happening again.

 

[16v_jon]

I have titanium bolts in this as its happened to me a few times previously

 

[philmots]

So they not nylock to start with, WTF!!! bloody frog munchers

 

[clidge]

cheers guys lets us know how you get on mr phil if this sorts it i will be most very very happy...may even buy you all a pint...oh s**t you live so fare away ha ha ha

 

[LegoHead]

Anyone know what size and length bolt it is? I'll get one machined up tomorrow as I think mine has gone too.

 

[clidge]

i think this a problem a lot of people have a guide would be great on this

 

[LegoHead]

Yep, I do hope this is the knocking noise I get at low speeds.

 

[philmots]

hope my bolts have not snapped like, jus wanna whack out battery and tighten the mofo's up. Im s**t with my hands though unless im stroking a pussy (cat) lol

 

[clidge]

dirt bag lol when are you doing it mate let us know asap!!! sorry to ask mate take some pics if you can cheers

 

[philmots]

Yeah no problems mate ill be doing it tomorrow morning sometime.. I can tell your stressing/worrying about it as you dont have a clue. I dont either though haha watch this space....

p.s. the gearbox wont fall out will it?

 

[BrianR]

Its relatively easy to push the new bolt up from underneath and put the washer and nut on, but its a whole lot easier if you have another pair of hands to help you.
I did it on my own so I know its not impossible.

I don't remember the size of the bolts Dave, I just found some new ones from my spares box that were the right size and length, from memory they were about 50mm long and probably M8 but check, as I am not sure.

 

[clidge]

jesus will it fall out he he cheers mate thanks brian for your comments mate fingers crossed this is going to be sorted ...if not ...b****cks

 

[LegoHead]

cheers Brian, I'll pinch some M8 from work tomorrow and see if they fit. I'm trying to find some decent material to get them machined out of.

The shear modulus of steel is around 80GPa, but Iridium is 208GPa.:evil: Lol.

Just looking for some cheap stuff now. edit: looks to be around £20 per gram.....

 

[BrianR]

cheers Brian, I'll pinch some M8 from work tomorrow and see if they fit. I'm trying to find some decent material to get them machined out of.

The shear modulus of steel is around 80GPa, but Iridium is 208GPa.:evil: Lol.

Just looking for some cheap stuff now. edit: looks to be around £20 per gram.....

Bloody Hell Dave, they will be the strongest part of the car, when they eventually come to crush it those bolts will jam the machine :lolup:

 

[LegoHead]

cheers Brian, I'll pinch some M8 from work tomorrow and see if they fit. I'm trying to find some decent material to get them machined out of.

The shear modulus of steel is around 80GPa, but Iridium is 208GPa.:evil: Lol.

Just looking for some cheap stuff now. edit: looks to be around £20 per gram.....

Bloody Hell Dave, they will be the strongest part of the car, when they eventually come to crush it those bolts will jam the machine :lolup:

I reckon if I fit this bolt, the steering wheel will probably fall off.

 

[Dan 172]

It only takes about 5mins to get the battery out, I wish I could say weather it will make the difference or not.

Well by the sounds of it the snapped bolt isn't too much of issue, I'll just get them to do that when it's in for the creeking noise.

It's driving me nuts. When the car is warmed up in traffic, I get a creeking noise coming from the passenger side behind the centre console when I turn the steering wheel slightly.

Anyone got any ideas???

 

[BrianR]

Loose steering rack bolts perhaps ?

 

[philmots]

Sounds like something to do with power steering hydraulics to me mate, works van does it now and again, and one of my mates dads old 3 series did it iirc. Mine doesn't do that, it just makes the knocking under high load..

 

[philmots]

update. ive tightened up the gearbox mounts as the 2 screws were slightly loose and its sorted the knocking problem i was happening on the near side, the only one ive got left is on the drives side but im putting that down to the top engine mount that is visably bent! so thats next on the agenda.

 

[kully]

update. ive tightened up the gearbox mounts as the 2 screws were slightly loose and its sorted the knocking problem i was happening on the near side, the only one ive got left is on the drives side but im putting that down to the top engine mount that is visably bent! so thats next on the agenda.

wooooohooo 1 down 1 to go

 

[clidge]

i cant wait to get this sorted now what tools, did you use mate

 

[philmots]

Half decent socket set is what you need, cant remember what size socets i used but ratchets and extensions are needed ideally.

 

[kully]

cant remember if it is 10mm sockets ..... :clown: good socket set as said ....

 

[clidge]

cheers buddy can i just confirm your noise was like a popping in sound?? and only does it once in a blue moon?

 

[philmots]

Yeah its like a hollow sound, suppose popping would describe it.. and if its coming from the near side its pretty much all it can be,..

 

[clidge]

excellent cheers mate thanks for that it is coming from passenger side so fingers crossed it will be ok going to go and see if i have radio code first he he...do you have to make sure its mega tight???

 

[Dan 172]

You definately need a long extension piece.

13mm socket for the nuts and the bolt holding the battery clamp down.

Unless your like me and it has already snapped.

 

[clidge]

cheers mate thats good its the same bolts at least you dont have to keep swopping over he he