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Re: Front Diff Mount Bolts

To: Mike Munson <fasttrs@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: Front Diff Mount Bolts
From: "Robert M. Lang" <lang@isis.mit.edu>
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 11:12:45 -0400 (EDT)
Hi,

To get the "studs" out from the frame, you need access to the top of the
upper crossmember. This means that you either have to remove the body (not
really as hard as it sounds) or you have to cut the parcel shelf to get
access to the welds.

As you may know, the studs are welded on the top side of the upper
crossmember. To remove them properly, you need to grind these welds off.
This grinding needs to be done from above.

Now, John mentioned that both of the studs are broken... this would
require making two "access points" on the parcel shelf. This means you
have to cut a lot of material from the shelf... if it were my car, I would
not do this. The parcel shelf does have a role in the structural integrity
of the body shell.

It is possible to do the repair from underneath, but you would (as Mike M.
suggests) have to center-drill the stud. Then all the welds would be done
from underneath. This is a real pain in the butt, speaking from personal
experience.

BUT - in all the cars that I've "fixed" with cracked mounts (three or
four), the upper crossmember was also cracked. If you do all the work from
underneath you probably won't see these cracks, and count on it - they'll
get worse over time if you don't replace the metal or "fix 'em real good".

So, a decision is required - do it "right" (body off) or "cobble it
together", e.g. DPO repair. The choice is yours.

regards,
rml
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