Bonnet taking off (nearly)!!

[hueb]

Driving down the motorway recently in the 450SE I got one hell of a scare when the bonnet started to take off at the front on one side. Managed to pull up quickly & thankfully no damage. The screw bolt had come away holding the bonnet to the side panel.
I'm sure I can't be alone here but has anyone suffered the same & is there a easy fix to prevent this happenning again. Especially as I want to take the 450 on some hill climbs / sprint runs. At the moment I daren't unless I resort to putting some sort of strap over the whole bonnet!!
Cheers Clive

[Jonny weggie]

Hi Clive, depends on how often you take your bonnet off the car you could put some thread lock on, the bolt will come back of with a spanner or socket if you dont fancy that then you could drill a hole through the bolt head [small] and put a piece of wire [two strands] through it and fix other end of wire to side of wing by small bit of fibreglass. The wire should be secure at wing and then tie wire together through the bolt head to hold it in place, wire should be tight'ish so bolt will not come out. Then it's a case of undoing the wire to take bolt out again.

jonny.

[rev-erend]

It's best to drill the neck of the bolt and use some lock wire. Failing that check it regularly.

A mate of mine lost his bonnet on a by pass at some speed .. he fould it about 200 yards away in a field. It also ripped out the mounting nuts in the wing and these had to be professionally refitted.

[JMF894]

It's common for them to come loose. I'm always having to check mine. Must get round to fixing them 'a la Hatter'

Jimbo

[KelWedge]

I lost one in December sometime, didnt notice until the next time I opened the bonnet.
You have to check you nuts often

[JMF894]

KelWedge said:

I lost one in December sometime, didnt notice until the next time I opened the bonnet.
You have to check you nuts often

So your nuts keep falling out unnoticed Kelvin?


Jimbo

[hueb]

Thanks all for the feedback...I'll try the lock wire approach & see what happens!!

[adam quantrill]

Hi Clive - see the "Welcome to Wedge Forum" -> FAQ and there's a post about it near the bottom. They are a perennial pain in the arse!