drucifer
Veteran Member
Will it work? New strut will be here Monday. I'm quite tired of resting the hatch on my back as I look for things in the back of the car.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o6xcqma55aau1j7/20170323_152624.jpg?dl=0
JB weld vs hatch strut
- Thread starter drucifer
- Start date
Will it work? New strut will be here Monday. I'm quite tired of resting the hatch on my back as I look for things in the back of the car.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o6xcqma55aau1j7/20170323_152624.jpg?dl=0
squeegee_boy
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2003
- Location
- Denali, AK
You could try it, not a whole lot of downside besides the aesthetics.
Given the amount of force on that component, I would weld it. If you can't weld, you could probably pay someone to weld it for maybe $50. Consider it to be a plan B.
Alternately, you could drill through the D-pillar from the inside and back it up with a nut. I did this, but keep in mind that you need a really big hole to fit a nut through the inside and the metal in that pillar is remarkably thick.
Given the amount of force on that component, I would weld it. If you can't weld, you could probably pay someone to weld it for maybe $50. Consider it to be a plan B.
Alternately, you could drill through the D-pillar from the inside and back it up with a nut. I did this, but keep in mind that you need a really big hole to fit a nut through the inside and the metal in that pillar is remarkably thick.
POWERSTROKE
Top Post Dawg
What exactly is that part? There is a ball that gets scrrwed I to the pillar, the. The strut has a socket that presses onto the ball. Is that the threaded insert that rests in the frame? What happened? I've had those ball ends loosen up a couple times and Ive had to snug them down a couple of times.
drucifer
Veteran Member
Welding would be plan C.
Plan A was to use a nutsert. After drilling with the
appropriate drill bit and too much speed and no lube I wound up with something other than the 17/32 hole I was expecting. By the way I would of had to go into more metal for the nusert to sit properly.
Plan A was to use a nutsert. After drilling with the
appropriate drill bit and too much speed and no lube I wound up with something other than the 17/32 hole I was expecting. By the way I would of had to go into more metal for the nusert to sit properly.
drucifer
Veteran Member
The part in the picture is something I found at the hardware store. The M8 x 1.25 ball will get screwed into it. The captive nut is no longer captive. Last year the strut snapped off by being too loose or already off and got sheared by the weight of the hatch coming down on it. I think this has cured me to look at these every once in a while.
UhOh
Top Post Dawg
Maybe something like this: http://rivetnutusa.com/plusnut-products-tools.html
Ol'Rattler
Top Post Dawg
No need to over think this. How about the right length stick to hold the hatch up. It would work great until the new strut comes in.
drucifer
Veteran Member
That was the original plan to get one like you mount a panzer plate to but nutserts was what I could find.
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I dare not change those ball type fasteners since one of the nutserts feels loose, but I can still tighten them. I cannot see any way of reinstalling them on my Golf, unless the head liner has to come off. Going in the D pillar from the top?
drucifer
Veteran Member
Ahh, the joys of waiting for usps. 10 days and counting.
weelsey
Well-known member
was in there today with the same problem. Where does that darn nut fall to? Welding the ball place sounds like the ticket. But a guy (or gal) could almost stick a nut to a wire and get it up in place through a little hole that in the pillar...
drucifer
Veteran Member
It falls into the abyss of the D pillar.
I'm no welder but it seems like there wouldn't be enough meat to weld the ball to the outer part of the D pillar. Even if it did hold at first the stress of operating the strut would make the weld fail.
weelsey
Well-known member
Agreed.
What do you think about tacking rebar tie wire to a self-locking nut and trying to fish it into alignment through the pillar hole to thread?
drucifer
Veteran Member
Ugh! I don't see that happening. Then I'd be ready to drop it off at the body shop or welder and let them figure it out.
drucifer
Veteran Member
JB weld 0
Hatch. 1
Welder in scoring position for 50
Hatch. 1
Welder in scoring position for 50
Tdijarhead
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2013
- Location
- Lawrenceville PA
- TDI
- 2003 TDI Jetta Daughters Car, 2001 TDI Beetle, Wife’s car, 2005 Golf TDI Mine, all 5 spds
If you have a new strut on order just cut a piece of wood to length and keep it in the back to prop the hatch. No modifications that you'll regret later required. And the best part, it's cheap and easy.
weelsey
Well-known member
How'd the weld go?
drucifer
Veteran Member
Welder came today. Ground off JB weld. Welded a nut like I showed earlier on the face of the D pillar. New struts from AA Rodriguez now only does the hatch go up, it wants to. You barely have to pull up on it. Pic to come later
drucifer
Veteran Member
https://youtu.be/xcZ-0Rm3zn4
I managed the video but having problems with the stills.
I managed the video but having problems with the stills.
drucifer
Veteran Member
POWERSTROKE
Top Post Dawg
That's a pretty fugly weld. At least it works.
drucifer
Veteran Member
The guy has 3 years experience. I wonder what they looked like the first year?
Need I paint this work of art? Not for aesthetics but rust.
Need I paint this work of art? Not for aesthetics but rust.
weelsey
Well-known member
Oooh, the feeling of satisfaction a working tailgate gives... throw that stick away! I have a success story to share also. I went fishing down the pillar with a household wiring copper wire.. and low and behold, fished up the nut! I spent the next couple hours trying to hold it in place while attempting to thread the ball into it. After lots of unsuccessful attempts and fishing, it finally took and I was able to tighten the bolt with it's own clamping force alone. Hurray! Sorry, no pics. but it did work. Believe me!