URGENT suspension question, help please

[TeeLew]

So what? If they are listed as single use in the manual why would you choose not to follow it? Over a few dollars for a couple bolts? Certainly if these were torque to yield you would (I don't think these are though).

I've had them out a bunch. It would be a little silly to replace them every time.

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[CJJon]

I've had them out a bunch. It would be a little silly to replace them every time.

Silly? I use a torque wrench every time too...talk about silly!

 

[mindo389]

Not sure about driving your car, however, once you have it at that dealership, request the service manager and the overall dealership manager into an office and show the pictures. I don't like to see technicians get in trouble, but it appears that guy was distracted from his work and serious damage or worse could have happened.

 

[TeeLew]

Silly? I use a torque wrench every time too...talk about silly!

You do you, pal.

 

[Weyland-Yutani]

Can't tell for sure, but it seems like something you want to check alignment (again) after tightening.

 

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

Here's the deal. That plate is just there to put the big - ass subframe bolt in double shear. If the subframe bolt is tight, you're probably fine for light driving, but who knows what they did or didn't tighten?

Exactly, now I won't ever be able to sleep easy until I bring it back in.

You are driving it like that?!?

Wow...

I noticed it last night and drove it to work this am as I didn't really have another choice and I honestly got distracted last night that I forgot. I am bringing it back to the dealer in like an hour.
I'm not the type of person to drive 20,000 miles on one oil change or anything, I take care of my stuff, I just really whiffed on this one.

One more thing, there's a lot of liability for the dealer to not make it right. If you bring it back, there's an awfully good chance that they won't mess it up a second time.

Yeah, that's kind of why I don't want to do it myself, they need to see it. I'll just have to drive stupid careful there...

Not sure about driving your car, however, once you have it at that dealership, request the service manager and the overall dealership manager into an office and show the pictures. I don't like to see technicians get in trouble, but it appears that guy was distracted from his work and serious damage or worse could have happened.

That is the goal. The service advisor (the person booking appointments, making sure I got a loaner car etc) is awesome and yeah, I don't want to see the service guys get in trouble, but this combined with the fact one of them took it to a gas station is over the line.

My course of action is leaving work early, driving there carefully, leaving it there and raising some hell there.
Thanks all for your help.

 

[NGOT8R]

I recommend taking a torque wrench to the subframe mounting bolts (big blue bolts) and checking that the dealer torqued them down to 129 ft-lbs. If they did, then you could elect to just tighten/torque the four bolts for the two subframe mounting plates yourself, or take it back to the dealer and speak to the service manager about the issue and request that they recheck the alignment on the car and ask that they do not have the person who worked on it last time, perform any work on your car in the future. Lastly, you can always request that the dealership does not test drive your car after the alignment. I did this when I had my Bullitt aligned after removing it for a host of upgraded parts.

 

[kz]

Take a 13 mm socket and thread those bolts in. They just hold the bracket that holds the subframe bolt.

90% of answers in this thread (except for TeeLew's) shows no one here did any suspension work - you all should spend some time in the shop and see what they do to your cars. Most would probably end with heart attack.

I've had these bolts in and out probably 20 times already. They still are fine. They have to be loose while the subframe is torqued so they forgot to tighten them - not a big deal but sloppy work obviously.

One would have to be absolutely out of their mind to tow the car for two bolts that take about 20 seconds to torque. I personally torque with Milwaukee M12 stubby on #2 setting and they're fine (even though I own about 6 different torque wrenches).

 

[CJJon]

Why do people recommend others do sloppy work on their cars? Why look down on me because I want to follow the manual? I don't get it.

 

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

I recommend taking a torque wrench to the subframe mounting bolts (big blue bolts) and checking that the dealer torqued them down to 129 ft-lbs. If they did, then you could elect to just tighten/torque the four bolts for the two subframe mounting plates yourself, or take it back to the dealer and speak to the service manager about the issue and request that they recheck the alignment on the car and ask that they do not have the person who worked on it last time, perform any work on your car in the future. Lastly, you can always request that the dealership does not test drive your car after the alignment. I did this when I had my Bullitt aligned after removing it for a host of upgraded parts.

I think I will follow your suggestion to request the technician does not work on my vehicle anymore. I'm not petty nor looking to get anyone fired, but still.
I meanwhile got a call back from the service manager, they are obviously alarmed, I will be bringing it back in.

Take a 13 mm socket and thread those bolts in. They just hold the bracket that holds the subframe bolt.

90% of answers in this thread (except for TeeLew's) shows no one here did any suspension work - you all should spend some time in the shop and see what they do to your cars. Most would probably end with heart attack.

I've had these bolts in and out probably 20 times already. They still are fine. They have to be loose while the subframe is torqued so they forgot to tighten them - not a big deal but sloppy work obviously.

One would have to be absolutely out of their mind to tow the car for two bolts that take about 20 seconds to torque. I personally torque with Milwaukee M12 stubby on #2 setting and they're fine (even though I own about 6 different torque wrenches).

I appreciate everyone's input, it's just something I don't have enough experience with yet.

The bolts are both loose on both sides. To me (limited knowledge obviously) it didn't look like it was a safety concern, but want to get it done right and it makes me wonder what else was sloppily done.

Last thing - I'm at work and certainly can't lay down under the car (it's so tight under the Bullitt I probably couldn't) to do it myself.
Plus, I want to have write-up on this for future record keeping and need to talk to the manager face to face.

 

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

Why do people recommend others do sloppy work on their cars? Why look down on me because I want to follow the manual? I don't get it.

I wouldn't take it too personally. I think it was more of a "this particular instance is not a huge deal."

I appreciate everyone's input, so thank you. And yes, @CJJon, I am taking it back to have a record of everything and to discuss things. I am not taking this lightly. Shines a light on some sloppy mechanics.

 

[TeeLew]

Why do people recommend others do sloppy work on their cars? Why look down on me because I want to follow the manual? I don't get it.

Because you're being a douche about it. It's not necessarily what you're saying, but how you're saying it.

 

[CJJon]

Because you're being a douche about it. It's not necessarily what you're saying, but how you're saying it.

Snort!

Sensitive much? And you are not even the OP. Why would you care?

Douche indeed.

 

[kz]

Why do people recommend others do sloppy work on their cars? Why look down on me because I want to follow the manual? I don't get it.

What do you call sloppy work ? Torque values are important in some cases, in others less. When you have experience with certain joint (and knowledge about how bolted joints work), then you can stop overthinking it.

One of the most respected Corvette mechanics in this country that happens to be aligning my car on regular basis, never uses torque wrench. He used Snap On impact to torque the nuts on my strut mount / camber plates (those are thin and can snap if overtorqued) and another one for my wheels. I obsessed about it for a while when he did first time few years back but after spending time watching him do it, I quit obsessing about it.
These particular bolts I've dealt with many times myself. They'll be fine. Not worth anyone worrying about it and certainly not worth towing the car.

 

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

Because you're being a douche about it. It's not necessarily what you're saying, but how you're saying it.

Snort!

Sensitive much? And you are not even the OP. Why would you care?

Douche indeed.

Whoah gents, easy. Let's keep this civil. No need to attack each other, I'd argue none of us are pros or mechanics (unless some are and then correct me), so when I posted this, I was looking for advice and opinions, which I got, but am also taking them at face value.

The service manager called back and confirmed these are crash protection bolts, something to take the impact and it is not the main suspension component. Regardless, they will make it right and fix it, as expected.

So overall, the service manager was pleasant and so is my service advisor, they just need to get their people in line I suppose.

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