Fixable? Stripped threads on brass bushing holding fuel rail.
Fixable? Stripped threads on brass bushing holding fuel rail.
Hey everyone, happy Monday.
This isn't my first post, but I can't remember my password for my real account. Oh well. Search for this came up blank for me.
So, a few months ago I replaced the front 6 coils and spark plugs and yesterday I finally got around to doing the back two (5.4 BTW). Wow, not fun. Got the driver's side done in 15-20 minutes and I thought I was doing great...and then went for the passenger side. I unbolted the fuel rail because it was in the way. An HOUR later I got the new plug in and got the new coil on and bolted down. So to finish everything up I push the fuel rail back down, the front hold down bolt lined up fine but the one closer the back of the engine was up a little high and when I threaded the bolt in it stripped the threads. DAMN!
That bushing look like it's brass and it looks like it is pressed into the plastic of the manifold. So the question is, can that bushing be pressed out somehow and a new one pressed in? Or would it be easier/cheaper to just run a tap through it. I don't own a tap and have no way of pressing that out and I work 60 hours a week so it is going to the shop or (gasp) the dealership, will they be able to do this? Has this happened to anyone before?
Some other notes/questions. The front bolt is in on the fuel rail and I tried to pick up the back of the rail and it wasn't budging, but this makes me super nervous for a fuel leak & then a fire. I drove it this morning (commute is only 2 miles), by the time I got to work I could smell fuel but I had spilled a bunch when I popped it off yesterday (even though I ran it and pulled the fuel pump fuse to run it dry). Think it's leaking or am I just smelling all the fuel I spilled yesterday being burned off?
Also, on both of the back plugs, when I pulled out my plug socket it was pretty much covered in oil, along with the spark plug itself. This can't be good. Leaking valve cover gasket? It has 146,000 on it.
Thanks for any help and advice!!!
Happy Monday!
Doug
This isn't my first post, but I can't remember my password for my real account. Oh well. Search for this came up blank for me.
So, a few months ago I replaced the front 6 coils and spark plugs and yesterday I finally got around to doing the back two (5.4 BTW). Wow, not fun. Got the driver's side done in 15-20 minutes and I thought I was doing great...and then went for the passenger side. I unbolted the fuel rail because it was in the way. An HOUR later I got the new plug in and got the new coil on and bolted down. So to finish everything up I push the fuel rail back down, the front hold down bolt lined up fine but the one closer the back of the engine was up a little high and when I threaded the bolt in it stripped the threads. DAMN!
That bushing look like it's brass and it looks like it is pressed into the plastic of the manifold. So the question is, can that bushing be pressed out somehow and a new one pressed in? Or would it be easier/cheaper to just run a tap through it. I don't own a tap and have no way of pressing that out and I work 60 hours a week so it is going to the shop or (gasp) the dealership, will they be able to do this? Has this happened to anyone before?
Some other notes/questions. The front bolt is in on the fuel rail and I tried to pick up the back of the rail and it wasn't budging, but this makes me super nervous for a fuel leak & then a fire. I drove it this morning (commute is only 2 miles), by the time I got to work I could smell fuel but I had spilled a bunch when I popped it off yesterday (even though I ran it and pulled the fuel pump fuse to run it dry). Think it's leaking or am I just smelling all the fuel I spilled yesterday being burned off?
Also, on both of the back plugs, when I pulled out my plug socket it was pretty much covered in oil, along with the spark plug itself. This can't be good. Leaking valve cover gasket? It has 146,000 on it.
Thanks for any help and advice!!!
Happy Monday!
Doug
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,770
Likes: 6
From: Michigan
I would try to tap it. What I usually do is take a bolt in a vice and using a file cut two grooves lengthwise about a 1/4 inch up from the end of the bolt. cut them on opposite sides of the bolt and deep enough so you cut into the bolt shaft leaving sharp edges on the threads on both sides of the groove. This basicly turns the bolt into self tapping. Then put a little oil on the bolt and try to screw it in. I've used this on all sizes of bolts and it works about 95% of the time. Or just spring for a tap. If it is real tight turning back it out a few times be carefull that the brass bushing does not strip inside the plastic.If all this fails you can plug the hole with JB Weld or epoxy and redrill and tap it. You have to secure it or yes you will get a fuel leak.