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nathanielwilliam

· Mechanical Engineer
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411 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
About a year ago, the bolt that attaches my shifter linkages to the transmission fell out leaving me stranded. (this was installed by a previous owner so I have no idea if anti seize was used.)

In the last two weeks I have located rattles inside my car that have been bugging me. One was the front right side bolt for my passenger seat. Also two bolts on the passenger side back seat trunk latch bar were loose.

The passenger seat bolt backed off about half an inch but was still tight enough that I had to grab my large 1/2 Ratchet to tighten it back down.

I'm posting this for two reasons.

1) It might something to keep in mind for anyone that installs or has installed rough idle cams.

2) I was curious if anyone else has had problems with bolts loosening. It kind of has me scared. To my knowledge, these bolts (other than the shifter bolt) haven't been touched since the car was built. I can't practically check every single bolt in my car but, the thought of bolts coming loose on something more critical than a seat bolt has me worried.

I don't have prothane motor mounts or stiffer suspension components. I'd think that it would be worse if I did. If you've had bolts come loose, what were they?
 
Cams won't cause that. Bumps in the road shake the car much more that a little cam shake.
 
My shifter bolts all do this and sometimes so will my tb bolts but its because all these things are replaced and I didnt use threadlocker. Moral of the story, threadlocker will keep them in place.


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Cams won't cause what you are experiencing. Use blue Lok-Tite and buy some torque wrenches.

Winner winner chicken dinner.
 
Previous owner is more than likely the culprit. Blue loctite is the ticket for the shifter
 
Cams are not the issue, and antiseize doesnt keep bolts tight.
I think he mis-spoke...he said anti-seize but I *think* he meant Lok-Tite (Threadlocker)

Lok-Tite (threadlocker) CAN keep bolts tight and it does have anti-seize properties. You have to choose the right compound for the right job.

BLUE does a good job of keeping bolts tight and torques to spec without loosening and is used on bolts you want to be able to take apart again in the future.

RED is more of a "permanent" solution; it either requires heat to loosen or a LOT of torque (impact).

Now the grey anti-seize...I agree...it only prevents seizing. I use it on spark plug threads.
 
The other thing you have to also consider is the guys at the factory are just guys like you and me. Pretty easy to let on slip by, especially with all those automatic torque wrenches and stuff. It would not be beyond the realm of reality for him to hit the bolt with the wrench and for some reason it click off and he doesn't double check it. More so if it's on a Monday after a long weekend or Friday getting close to punching out. Just saying. I have a custom factory optioned window switch panel with a trunk release installed in my car. So that just shows that not every car goes out perfect.
 
Mine was perfect :naughty:
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Ha, I definitely meant loctite not anti seize. I have no problem tightening bolts and have been applying loctite and torquing bolts as I find them loose. I just really hope I don't have any critical fasteners come loose that I can't hear rattling.
 
I do 99% of my own work on the car so I know that things are done right. And being that I race pretty much all year I do a once over at least twice a year. It's a good habit to get into. I occasionally find something that has worked loose but it is more about peace of mind when you're hitting 120 at the end of the strip. I go over everything from suspension and drive train, to header bolts and cam covers.
 
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