Help, installing seats disaster... :(
 

As i was installing the stock seats back into the car, i stripped threads of one back mounting hole of the passenger seat. ( I know its stupid, it was cold and i was impatient as i'm late )

Also the hole was kinda rusty which makes it even easier to ... fck up./

What should i do? The bolt still kinda fits, but cant no longer be tight. I can turn it all the way down, but its not tighten up.

Can i use thread chaser tool to fix this? or do i have to drill it out and tap a new thread? The car chassis is hard steel right? I dont know if i can use hand tapping tool.

Please, anyone got experience with this? Its not safe carrying a passenger with 3 bolts right?

You have a couple options. You can drill the hole slightly larger and:

A) use a large, thick washer and nut on the bolt from the outside (bottom) of the car...

Or

B) re-tap the hole with a slightly larger thread and install a new bolt.

You can try a thread chaser first, but it may not be as strong as it should be and may re-strip again easily. In an accident, you don't want your seat coming loose...

Thnks, thats my main concern. So i gotta fix it asap. I think tapping a new thread is the most assurance. However, does hand tapping tool works? I see those tools at CT but i always thought they're for hobbies.

Yep, you can tap the hole by hand. It's actually better to tap it by hand so you can feel it as you go and make sure it's tapping properly. Go in a bit, then back off. then in further, then back it off...continue until through.

You can buy tapping kits or buy an individual tap (for which you'll need a tap handle). Just make sure you use a bolt with the same thread that you tap the hole with (of course).

Good luck.

Thanks, i will be patient this time. Learned it a hard already. I will report back the process.

Just wondering if the bolt is going in but just continues to spin you can try the plumber trick. Use some plumbers tape and wrap up the bolt is if it helps it grab.

But if it's really that bad go with MPR's choice of making a bigger hole then you know 100% it will grab.

Good Luck.