Sombrero spinning nut

[Steve L.]

I welded in a new sombrero that holds on the diff. x member, last year. Yesterday I put the x member in and the nut on one of the sombreros is spinning and doesn't hold the 60 ft-lbs of torque. I got this bracket from a well known vendor that is often quoted on this forum.

I called him this AM and was told to cut a 2" hole in the top bracket with a hole saw (body is off) so I could get at the nut and re-weld the nut. Then re-weld the cut off disk on the top bracket.

The other alternative is to cut the entire sombrero off and put a new one in. This would be a big pain.

The first solution looks the easiest. Anyone have any better ideas?

[Michael W.]

Re: Sombrero spinning nut

Since it's unlikely that you or anyone will ever need to go back in there once assembled, I'd epoxy the nut in place with a big slobber of JB weld. Coat the threads of the nut with grease so no epoxy accidentally gets stuck there.

[John H.]

Re: Sombrero spinning nut

The first solution looks the easiest. Anyone have any better ideas?

Steve -

I'd go with the first method and weld the nut in place as it was originally; you don't want that nut to come loose again after the body is back on the frame.