dnwong

I was installing some struts and I tried to torque the bolts on the top of the strut tower. One sheared off. So, how bad is driving with only 3 bolts. Also, need recomendations for repair?

Kurt R

OK, it's too late for me to go out to the garage and look at a strut top, but I think they're just like VW ones. The stud is just pressed into the plate, you can tap that one out and replace it. If you have small hands you might even be able to do it with the strut mounted on the car. If not, disconnect the swaybar and the other three bolts and you should be able to drop the strut down far enough to get a new stud in with bigger fingers, and not disturb the strut to spindle joint, thus reducing the chances you would have to realign the car afterwards.

Techno Duck

Just note those are only supposed to be torqued to 18 ft-lbs.

dnwong

All the others held at 25lb which was what I read in one of the other threads. Except this one. But the camber plate was a little rusty so maybe the bolts were weakened...

Dynamite 76

The top bolts that adjust the alignment are indexed. Draw a diagram before removing and use it to realign for re-asslembly should keep your alignment close enough not to worry about it. Here is an example:

Just in case, make sure to loosen but not remove the top strut nuts first (the one that broke), and torque tight last, while the load of the vehicle is on the wheels.