Headlight problem...Help!!

[ninesixfourrs]

Got a stripped thread in the headlight retaining bracket, its the small bracket inside the Headlight bowl anyone had this problem and what did you do to fix it, would a heli coil insert do the job ? the amount of thread length in the bracket seems very small

 

[Elliot Davies]

I heard of people brazing a nut onto the back of the bracket and then a quick spray to cover up bare metal.
IMO a helicoil wouldnt have enough metal to grip to and do its job

 

[ninesixfourrs]

Found just what I need Threaded Rivet nut, Demon Tweeks do a kit..........Cheers

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Russ,

I thought of that when I had the same problem but there is nothing like enough meat around the threaded hole to drill it out to accept the threaded rivet. Plus, the threaded rivet won't be the right thread for the special "screw in a screw" that retains the headlamp and bezel.

The only solutions are to "bodge it" with some epoxy or something similar to close up the rusted threaded hole, braze a suitable nut on the back if the metal will take it or, utlimately, braze on a new tab completely. The latter is what finally got done on my car last year.

I noticed you'd got a slew of replies on Rennlist - it's obviously a really common problem.

Good luck.

Regards

Dave