Thread chaser or tap?

I screwed up.

I was bolting my new steering rack in place when I cross threaded the lower bolt on the passenger side.

I’ve ordered the correct size thread chaser and I’m trying to repair the threads. However, I feel like I’m having to apply waaaay too much force to the thread chaser. It doesn’t feel right at all.

Should I give up on the thread chaser and use the tap?

 

How bad is it cross threaded, can you post a pic of it. Thread chaser would be best but if it's taking a lot of force you don't want to snap it off in there. If it's cross threaded really bad then a thread chaser may not work.

Thread chaser is generally better cause if you use a tap it'll cut threads so depending on how bad the damage is you risk cutting out too much material weakening the thread. But if a thread chaser ain't working for you then you may have no choice but to use the tap. Or helicoil if the thread is heavily damaged.

 

You might want to consider looking for a blind tap if this is not a through hole.

 

BTW make sure you are using some kind of lube or cutting fluid. Don't run the chaser or tap dry.

 

i can see the other side of the hole. There is a cutout in the frame.

I am thinking about trying to case it from the backside.

 

So it's the bottom of the U shaped bracket for the big rack bushing?

Edit: posted at the same time.

 

And damn it, from this angle, I’m not straight at all

 

yes

 

Are you sure that is the right pitch? The chaser looks to be course threaded.

 

Yup I was just about to say that, it looks crooked as hell!

I forget off the top of my head what thread size that is, I just had mine off not that long ago, but are you sure that's the right size chaser? The thead pitch looks kinda coarse to me.

Does the pitch on your chaser match the bolt? The chaser looks like 1.5 1.75 pitch, I thought I remember that bolt being 1.25 1.5 pitch?

 

Weld the bottom in place and never touch it again

 

Ok I remember now, this pic is from a few weeks ago when I replaced my LCA bushings. Circled in blue is the lower bolt for that bracket. And I remember screwing the top nut onto the bolt for safe keeping. It should be 1.5mm pitch, your chaser looks like 1.75mm.

 

If you can get to the back thats what I'd do. Theory you should have good fresh threads to start from on the back side, provided you have the correct pitch chaser. The good threads should engage very easy and line up the chaser for when it gets to the bad part.

 

Ok I'm trippin, I was thinking M12 but those are obviously M14. So should be 1.5mm & your chaser looks like 1.75mm?

 

OK so my weld it in place comment was mostly a joke but it would work and technically could be undone, but who wants to do that?

Looking at this pic from when I did my rack bushings, you could if you had to, run a smaller size bolt that bypass the threads entirely and cinch it up tight with an appropriate sized washer + nut on the backside. Not an ideal fix but I would consider if if the threads are pooched. Wouldn't cost much at all either.

 

That could work but I would only do that as a temporary solution. Reason being the cross member is hollow, without being able to put a spacer in between there may not be enough suport running a long bolt with a nut on the other end.

 

Yeah, I did use a 14x1.5 chaser. I ordered it from Matco. It’s the right one.

 

Ah ok, I guess it's just the pic deceiving, looked really coarse.

 

Ok, so if you aren't having luck from the front, the suggestion of trying from the back is a good one. But I think there's not enough room to try from the back, chaser not long enough......

Make your own chaser, old mechanics trick I was taught. Get a bolt that is long enough to reach in from the rear. Cut a flute (or 2) at the start of threads with a cut off wheel. Make sure the cut is 90° to the thread, you don't want the cut tapered. Hopefully it's not cross thread all the way to back so you can get the bolt started nicely. Again use lube. I'm sure you know but run it like a tap, advance till there's resistance, back off to clear chips, repeat.