H-Brace Install

[MorpheusGPR]

I have an H-Brace from Nook I am trying to get installed and having some troubles. I have the 4 nuts off the bolts but the H-brace won't go on without backing out two of the bolts right? How is this done effectively? I tried using a socket and rachet but the things were ultra tight and did not budge.

Any helpful tips?

 

[38SHO]

you have to completely remove all the bolts.... then wedge the H-brace in there, some cars that might have seen some severe abuse might take a little more force.........

then you slide the bolts back in and put the nuts on... its easy to take them off, the real bitch is tightening the bolts back down once the H-brace is in there, as it takes up a lot of room.....

 

[MorpheusGPR]

Did you pull them out with a socket? or beat them out with a sledge? Not sure if its threaded all the way through or not.

Do you know off hand what size the bolts are? I think I was using a 19mm but it was a little loose.

 

[38SHO]

19mm..... I THINK

if thats what you were using and it might have even been slightly loose thats probably what it is......... I was either thinking 19 or 21... but a 19mm socket wouldn't fit at all on a 21mm bolt head......

I used a screwdriver and a hammer to knock them out make sure the car is jacked up when you do this.......

I put one on my old car, took it off and put it on this car, so I've messed with H-braces a few times.... if memory serves me correctly.. there is a small bolt head with a metal plate on it that keeps it from spinning so you don't have to use a back-up wrench correct? I work from the inside of the control arm box and take off the nuts, once those are off nothing is holding the bolt in there and it can be beat out.....

you'll have to tap them back in too, the hole and bolt have a fairly close tolerance...

start each bolt seperately and just drive it all the way through on the reinstall. just keep lining it up, you need to line up the control arm, and h-brace, then knock the bolt on through... if your doing this on the ground it might not hurt to have a helper. then thread on the nuts and goto town finding a setup that gets onto the bolt, yet allows the ratchet and socket to fit around the h-brace. I ended up using a 1/2 ratchet and a short impact MAC socket...

while we are on this subject, if you ever have to take it off be careful about ratchet clearance as well... you can start cranking off a nut then the ratchet bottoms out against the other side of the H-brace... then you get to swear a couple times...

 

[MorpheusGPR]

Any idea what you torqued them too? I would guess...tight-as-you-can.

I guess it might be easier if I jack it up, I was hoping I could get away with it on the tires. Where abouts did you place the jack? The h-brace would be a good spot, buts its not there yet

 

[38SHO]

where the rear control arms goto from the knuckle is a flat piece of metal... good spot to run a jack or jackstand....

I torqued them pretty tight, atleast 50-60ftlbs I'd say

 

[SeanMc]

13/16ths...it's a standard bolt.

 

[MorpheusGPR]

Thanks, I am going to try and get it put on this weekend.