Best way to fix this stripped thread?

So I went to tighten up the sway bar bolt and I stripped the thread on the frame for the bolt...

What's the best way to fix it? Helicoil?

Or remove sway bar?

 

Did you try running a tap through to straighten the threads back out?

 

As was already mentioned, try chasing the threads with a tap. If that doesn't work, I'd drill and tap for the next largest size bolt. That would be MUCH easier than a heli coil imho. My thoughts on removing the sway bar might be a little tainted.....I drive a lot of high speed interstate miles and love having the stability a sway bar provides. If it were me, even if I removed the sway bar, I'd put the bolts back in after removing it just to keep the threaded holes clean in the event you want to put it back later.

 

Are you sure it's the thread in the frame, and not the bolt? Or is it both?

Is it actually stripped, or was it cross threaded?

As mentioned, a tap might save a cross thread, less likely to save a strip. That with a new bolt might have you back in business.

 

cross threading is nature's loctite.

 

All bolts on a truck should be blue torqued...

Tighten that sucker till your face turns blue.

 

It's stripped. I was tightening the bolt and trying to get it to the mfg specs...then *snap the threads stripped...

 

Was most likely rust on the tip of the bolt and when you pulled it down it mucked up the threads on removal, then when you went to reinstall they couldnt take it. Ive seen it before where the rust takes half the threads out. Unless you did cross thread it, which happens. But like others said, drill it and tap it to a bigger bolt

 

can you just use a longer bolt and put a nut on the other side of the frame? or is it boxed? I would tap to the next size up and get a bigger bolt if so.

 

Haha coming from a guy who works in a car factory. Love it

 

It's boxed...but someone recommended I drill a small hole to get a bolt in there.

 

You could but i don't know if id recommend drilling a hole in the frame for that....
Seems like there's better ways imo

 

Assuming the bolt is out , chasing the thread is probably best to try first...

 

@iJDub, what was the solution. This just happened to me

 

Cross threaded or torqued to spec. Tight is tight!

 

Chase it first. Just to see if it works. If it doesn’t, I would do a helicoil, personally. Just do it right and use a new factory bolt

I actually did this on my outback and chasing it was all I needed to do.

 

whatever you do, with so very tiny metal particles, wear eye protection.

 

700 lb coils on his Icons...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sway-bar-removal-on-taco-w-aftermarket-coilovers.598116/

I'm running 700 lb coils. I removed my sway bar almost a year ago. No noticeable change in body roll or cornering grip compared to stock in steady state corners (like highway offramps). Turn-in response is slower, but the truck is more balanced at the limit with less understeer.