Page 1 of 1
Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:32 am
by 111jag
While attaching the backup bracket I was able to tighten one bolt into the frame with the captive nut, but the second bolt broke free of the captive nut. The one bolt seems to be tight enough as the broken one is a bit loose but seems to hold the bracket. Should I just leave the broken one alone and call it a day, or if I do get it out is there a way to fix the captive nut? It looks as if the captive nuts are welded to the inside of the frame.
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 2:46 am
by Nissanman
Game over I fear.
Just run with the one good fastener.
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:58 am
by Habitat.pat
You could drill & tap another hole spaced out to match the bracket & move the light over or drill & tap 2 holes & move the light in or out. Plenty of material there.
Peace, Pat
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:20 am
by keith0alan
A rivnut might work.
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 2:25 pm
by dads311
I use rivnuts quite often when I lose a capture nut. looks like a rivet but is threaded inside and clamps down like a rivet.
PXL_20230319_191404386.jpg
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:17 pm
by Mattk
I also use rivnuts. There great for just this situation.
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:32 pm
by 111jag
I've never heard of rivnuts? Can you show a picture of it installed? Do they come in different sizes?
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:41 pm
by Solex68
111jag wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:32 pm
I've never heard of rivnuts? Can you show a picture of it installed? Do they come in different sizes?
Short Video
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0301/ ... 1599786275
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:46 pm
by Solex68
Anyone have a recommendation for a RIVNUT tool? Any of the Amazon choices any good? Other options?
I've never seen one but it looks like a fun tool I could somewhere else, no plans to use it on my car.
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 12:57 pm
by dads311
Any of them on Amazon will work. I like the smaller one I have and it works well with the smaller bolts and screws. If I were going to be doing lots of 3/8 or 1/2 inch bots the 18 inch handles might be nice to have. You can also set them with a bolt and nut and maybe a couple washers by putting a bolt in the rivnut with a nut on the bolt, insert into the hole and tighten the nut down collapsing the rivnut. Much faster using the tool though.
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:43 pm
by redroadster
You can use a smaller screw instead of bolt and if to small a bit of MIG wire in the hole to shim. Aren't you talking of a blind nut ( nut welded to back of panel , captive nuts are nuts in a cage allowed to move slightly for easy install in tight un seen accesses
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:31 am
by david premo
There are rivet nut kits that have a simple tool with a hex nut head on the installation tool to hold it while you compresses the rivet nut. Once it has been compressed, you remove the bolt and crimping tool and ready for use. The rivet nuts come in all types of sizes both metric and fractional.
Dave
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 5:21 pm
by C.Costine
One kit is the "Nutsert" I used to have one. It worked very well.
Re: Captive nut broke free while tightening backup light bracket?
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 12:02 pm
by johnscf
111jag wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:32 am
While attaching the backup bracket I was able to tighten one bolt into the frame with the captive nut, but the second bolt broke free of the captive nut. The one bolt seems to be tight enough as the broken one is a bit loose but seems to hold the bracket. Should I just leave the broken one alone and call it a day, or if I do get it out is there a way to fix the captive nut? It looks as if the captive nuts are welded to the inside of the frame.
Do you remember what size bolt goes in to hold the bracket to the frame?