How bad is a stripped bolt?

[crusader33x]

Hello! Well after swapping m driver's seat, and then having to take it out again to do some vacuuming, i noticed that after i screw it in with my fingers, it goes down a couple of turns and then becomes stuck!! basically, at this point i always have to wrench it down all the way while the other 3 screw down all teh way with just fingers...... does this harm the integrity of my seat's position and safety? Is it an easy recomended fix i should have done? thanks

[Carfreak18]

well if the seats have torque specs...not sure if they do but if they do then yes that could affect the integrity for safety and such, you could always tap and die the bolt.

[crusader33x]

ouch... yeah im sure all seats do, in my factory service manual EVERY bolt has a torque spec even the front seats...... what does the process of tap and die involve??

[balls_to_the_wall]

Originally Posted by crusader33x

ouch... yeah im sure all seats do, in my factory service manual EVERY bolt has a torque spec even the front seats...... what does the process of tap and die involve??

Drill out to a bigger size, find the tap and then tap the hole, thread the new bolt in and your golden.

[crusader33x]

i see, thanks, but im kinda weary about having someone drill the hole and getting ruined....i feel that my car is forever ruined now because i got careless with one stupid bolt !

=(

[Steel]

Oh dont be a pansy. Just tap out the hole and put in a new bolt. That or take an impact gun, and as long as you're not planning on taking that seat out again, ram that stripped bolt home.

[UncleBob]

stop pulling you seat every week and the problem goes away

doesn't sound like anything is stripped, just need the threads cleane up.

[2.2 Straight six]

WD-40 and fine brush will clean out the hole, a wire brush over the bolt's threads will clean it up.

why the hell do you take the seats out for vacuuming? you just vacuum under the seats, you don't need to take them out.

[Ian Szgatti]

Originally Posted by 2.2 Straight six

WD-40 and fine brush will clean out the hole, a wire brush over the bolt's threads will clean it up.

why the hell do you take the seats out for vacuuming? you just vacuum under the seats, you don't need to take them out.

sounds to me like a real mans cleaning... good job. I'd say a quick fix for you there if your not into tapping the hole is this: if you have a few good threads... I mean enough to say yeah its strong, then grab some washers and make up the space and tighten it down. Thats just another suggestion...