Brown trousers in a Wedge....Tra la la la la there are...

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Coming back this morning from Maidstone on the motorway..70mph..Looked in my O/S mirror and over took a car in the middle lane and as i looked back the bonnet was floating halfway up the windscreen....Talk about brown trousers...I managed to get onto the hard shoulder, The N/S bolt was hanging in the bonnet hole which was a result but the O/S strut had popped off, It was also very hairy when i was trying to bolt it back, Every time a lorry went passed the bonnet was nearly taking off....Thought i had lost the bolt but only the rubber washer was missing...Scary shyte...

This is how it was when i stopped...Ziga

[superwedge]

we almost lost poppy,my ones have drill though the bolt,and wire goes in the hole,stop them undoing,

[mrzigazaga]

superwedge said:

we almost lost poppy,my ones have drill though the bolt,and wire goes in the hole,stop them undoing,

Tell me about it mate...I love looking at my engine but not at 70mph.....I think wired bolts are for me too....Ziga

[ChimpOnGas]

I saw this very thing happen to Solitude's Wedge when following him in my Chimp on the way the Silverstone, fekkin scary stuff!

[RCK974X]

Scary...

I have had a bonnet fly off a kit car - my fault, I forgot to do up the clips properly, luckily it didn't hit anybody, and I ran across motorway (!!!!) to retrieve it. It was aluminium, so bent it back, after it landed on its corner - and drove on, fixed it later....a brown trouser moment....

This might sound STUPID, but I double checked my wedge after reading this, and never dawned on me before, but mine have spring washers behind the heads. When I take bonnet off and refit, after aligning (A PITA), I always tighten bolts reasonably hard. Never had a problem....

Perhaps it's just as simple as some spring or shakeproof washers ???

Edited by RCK974X on Monday 5th January 18:24

[mrzigazaga]

Mmm...Spring washers could be a worthy addition..I have lost the fibrous washers that go in between the bonnet and front wing so i will need to dismantle and re-fit again anyway...I will probably make some removable rubber spacers to align the bonnet so that i can tighten the bolts without causing it to become too stiff which is what happens now.

Cheers...Ziga

[MrPicky]

Original factory fit between bonnet and wing was half a grommet, or even a full one depending on your gap sizes, use some masking tape to hold them in place while you manoeuvre the bolt into position - especially if you are single handed.

I wire my bolts as I have had them almost come out over time.

[mike various]

Forgive my ignorance but instead of wiring them why not use a dab of threadlock / loctite,
you can get it in different strengths.
Much easier than drilling and wiring.

Mike

[adam quantrill]

It's been in the FAQ for ages: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&a...

Trouble with loctite is if they get too stiff then there's a danger of ripping the captive nuts out when you do need to undo.

[wooly350i]

Always check ya underbolts!
This happened to one of our convoy en route to Waterlooville some 10 or 12 years ago but the thing flew right off causing the following Cerbera to do a swirvy at 70mph in the outside lane, we tutted then laughed about it.

[mrzigazaga]

Im actually going to have a bloody good look round the front end as i have heard what sounded like bolts rattling around the wheel arch...I have found a couple of large cross headed screws near the car but don't remember seeing them anywhere on the car?...

[Solitude]

ChimpOnGas said:

I saw this very thing happen to Solitude's Wedge when following him in my Chimp on the way the Silverstone, fekkin scary stuff!

Now now Dave, half truths son.....


















You were in a Toyota Prius.

Came by the new drum a couple of times over the Hols on pedal power......no one home !! Still waiting for a tour !!

[adam quantrill]

Dont worry if thinks drop off Zig - it's all weight-saving!