Rep Power: 314

Ok guys...after some searching...I found NOTHING.

So...I ask you once again for some help.

I took my whip in today to get it aligned...that's a horse of a different color (**** WAS WAY OFF lol)

When I got it back I noticed a BIG thud sound coming from the front drivers side strut...so...naturally I took it RIGHT BACK, and had them lift it and I looked at it. (I was too lazy to jack it up myself) Well...when I looked at the car, one of the wheels was a LOT lower than the other, when hanging off the lift, so I went to the wheel, lifted it and VOILA..it MOVED VERY EASILY.... SOOOO NOT GOOD!!!! I looked around, and didn't see anything loose, or missing, so I stepped back, thought of the install, and remembered what BlueRevs said when helping me. "Remember to tighten the bottom bolt man, I lost mine and it's a bitch to replace."

So...I checked to see if it was loose...and wouldn't ya know...IT WASN'T EVEN THERE!!!!
Funny thing is...I had the bolt BEFORE the alignment...but it was GONE after...hmmm...




My question....WHAT SIZE IS THAT BOTTOM BOLT?? It's the bolt that holds the insert to the strut housing...the one you had to drill a hole for. I think it's 12 mm but I'm not sure. I went to Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, PepBoys, Checker Auto Parts, etc. and NOBODY HAS METRIC BOLTS THAT BIG.

WHERE THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO GET ONE??? For now I'm driving VERY carefully with it gone, trying to ignore the CLUNK/THUD of the strut, but I don't want to wait very long for fear of REALLY messing something up...so ANY suggestions would be GREAT!!!

 
Rep Power: 0

I think that happened to me too. I can easily shake my wheel. It shakes in between the koni shocks and my groundcontrol coilovers.

 
Rep Power: 412

No they don't have bolts that large usually. You will probably have to go to Honda to get one.

 
Rep Power: 310

I'd call up Koni and see if they can tell you the size you need and if they can recommend where to get one. I'm sure they have some there, it just might take awhile to get. My front Konis came with 8mm hex bolts which I hate so I went looking for some regular bolts but couldnt find any with the right thread pitch. If you call Koni up, ask them if they have any that have a regular bolt head, not hex. If not make sure you buy a 8mm hex socket. When you install it, use a lock washer and some blue thread lock. The hardest part is torquing down the bolt since its hard to hold the strut assembly.

 
Rep Power: 0

Call Koni, they can send you a new one and their shipping is usually very quick. Not sure if they will charge you for it but if they do it probably won't be much...

 
Rep Power: 0

ace hardware carries a large selection

 
Rep Power: 0

damn, come on a little initiative ... try looking here: http://phonebook.superpages.com/yell...-CO/T-Boulder/
or else look in the yellow pages under "fasteners" or something

most large cities have industrial supply shops that sell a ton of specialized metric hardware for factories, machine shops, etc.

 
Rep Power: 314

You know what's funny...I NEVER THOUGH TO LOOK IN THE PHONE BOOK!!! lol But thanks anyway man!!!


Ok....so long story short...I went to Western Fasteners here in town...nope, BUT...

they referred me to .... get this.... AAA METRIC SUPPLY (FIFTH down on the phone book listings... )

So..I went there, got 2..yes 2... 12x30mm button head bolts ($2.00) and now I'm taking it to the alignment shop tomorrow, and telling them THEY have to put it in, and RE-align that BITCH!!! lol

We'll see...

 
Rep Power: 314

WOW...that was one of the WORST expierences I've EVER had.

1st...they tried to charge me to put the damn bolt back in...'till I grabbed the airgun out of the guys hand, took off the bottom of the strut...and put the bolt in myself..WAY easier with it on a lift, lol.

2nd ... The ******* tried to tell me that it was MY fault the bolt fell out... Hmmm.. it was in BEFORE the alignment..but not after...hmmm..

3rd ... When I called him on the free alignment check/re-do he tried to back out!!!

So...when I threatened legal reprocussions (G/F is a lawyer) he was MORE than happy to oblidge, lol.

After all was said and done..the ******* didn't even KNOW THE REAR CAMBER COULD BE ADJUSTED...I HAD TO SHOW HIM HOW TO DO IT!!!!!

Which means the first time...HE LIED ABOUT IT BEING ALIGNED!!! Then he tried to tell me that my camber bolt on the front strut should be the TOP bolt...NOT THE BOTTOM~ I just hit my head, said "just align the ****er!" and took the keys from him when he was done..

Funny thing is... IT STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT!!!!

I give up...I'll just get it aligned at a BETTER shop when I get new tires later in the summer...I don't care anymore, lol.

 
Rep Power: 310

You managed to get the air wrench in there? Nice. When I tried there wasnt enough room.

I believe he is correct about the camber bolt, its suppose to be the top bolt. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong thanks.

 
Rep Power: 314

Well, I removed a few things so that I could get access to it....but yeah...

OH ****...if the camber bolt is supposed to be on top...I'm hosed!!!

 
Rep Power: 511

i was having a similar problem with my alignment last week when i went to go get it. i went the first time and it pulled to the right, then i went again since my alignment came with a 6 month warrenty and they showed me all the alignment sheets and everything was perfect but the damn car still pulled to the right i think it may be the rims because it was pulling to the right if i remember correect last year before i had the drop.

 
Rep Power: 0

Shat jason, that freakin sucks, i went through that whole ordeal too. too bad i didn't check this before i got back to Kansas, cause i have those flocking bolts just in case, oh and about that creeking when your turning your wheel, mine does it too. Doesn't sound like a shatty noise that is too bad, so i guess we should just leave it alone.

 
Rep Power: 314

Eh...it's ok...I'm kinda done with this whole thing, lol.

I don't really care if the camber bolt is supposed to be on top...it's working JUST FINE on bottom, lol.

Eh...the creaks, I figure, if something's gonna go wrong...it's gonna go wrong...no use jackin' the car up every night or at every little sound because I'm paranoid. If it's f0cked...I'll deal with it then. lol

Thanks for listening guys!

 
Rep Power: 0

To be honest, 7G Civic suspension really sucks ***.

The GF's car is dropped 1.4" with sportlines and koni yellows and the ride is still iffy. And no matter how many times I got that car aligned it ALWAYS pulls to the left. Something fundamantally wrong with the whole suspension geometry of the 7G I guess.

In comparison, my 5G is dropped 2.75" on rock-hard Skunk2 coilovers made for a heavier car and it rides better than the 7G. And it NEVER pulls to one side.

Looking back she never should have traded in her 98 for this 2002, the 6G was a superior car in every way. I hope Honda gets it right again for the 8G or they will be in trouble.

When the Legacy GT comes out it'll probably be bye-bye for this car.

 
Rep Power: 0

Definitely use a locking washer! It'll prevent you from having the same problem again.


I got my Civic aligned TWICE by two different NTB and somehow it STILL kept pulling to the right. Then I got it aligned again by another alignment shop, which specialized in lowered cars, my car goes perfectly straight now. You gotta remember that alignment specs are pretty sensitive. Just because it's back within specs, doesn't mean your car will drive perfectly straight. Maybe try another alignment shop? *shrugs*

 
Rep Power: 314

I DID...I did it EXACTLY as the instructions said.

This time, since I didn't have that metal ring to cover the bottom of the shock, I used two washers and one lock washer. Hopefully it won't come out...lol

*crossing fingers* it's been about a week now...so we'll see... lease: