if the bolts are on the inside and dont show from the outside, a little saftey wire will do the trick nicely. they WONT come out with that, on the outside where people can see, it will look ugly though.

 

The quick release kit for undertray and rear diffuser works very well, Sector 111 sells them. It uses dsuz fasteners. Had it on my first elise will put on my new one. Takes about an hour to install the set, from then on it's about a 5 minute process to take the undertray/diffuser off.
Chris

 

I have never heard of teflon tape acting as a thread locker, it is more like using antisieze...But perhaps under certain conditions the extra material in there from the teflon tape would do the job. Wouldn't threadlocker be easier?


Mark

 

Blue Loctite works well on the larger bolts.

 

Guys...

Teflon tape will not prevent a bolt from backing out. It is to seal against leaks. Use it on any bolt that involves contact with a fluid (AN lines, sensers in the block or intake manifold, etc.).

I'd use blue thread locker on those bolts, but understand they will be a bitch to take off. Red is a huge no no. You'll probably break the bolt trying to get it off, or strip the hole.

The dzus solution is the best. Easy on, and easy off.

 

The bolts in question are not the ones you replace with DZUS fasteners. The smaller Number 8 bolts all over the place get replaced with the quick release kit. But they tend to not fall off as they use Tinnerman style nuts which have an automatic spring force to hold them in.

The ones that back out under vibration are the larger button head allen bolts that go through the diffuser and the pan under the engine (two per panel) and into the chassis. These are the ones I put a dab of blue loctite on. Just a small dab. And I still keep extra ones for replacements.

 

I ordered the quick-release kit a LONG time ago. Never got it... They were out of stock. Are they back in stock, now?

Mike

 

I tried Teflon tape on one of the two larger bolts (right side bolt, to be exact) because for some reason the hole and threads don't seem to be the correct size anymore (?? WTF ). I've never tapped any of those bolt holes so I'm not sure what the issue is. If I use any of the other bolts, they all fit loosely -- as if the hole is 0.5 mm too big. Although, some bolts seem to fit better than others. So now it comes loose (obviously) all the time.

Anyway, the Teflon definitely doesn't work. The reasoning was maybe if I wound enough of it around to increase the bolt diameter, it would hold.

So any suggestions? I've though of filling the hole with some sort of epoxy cement, and then drilling and tapping it out back to the correct size. Any thoughts or other suggestions? To make sure, the images shows exactly which bolt and hole I'm talking about (since some seem to be confusing them with the smaller 8 mm side bolts):

 

conan-
this solution was reported in another thread:

The first time I went to take off the undertray, one of the 8mm bolts was half loose because one of the 8mm frame nuts was stripped. I helicoiled it, it has been working fine since.

from this thread:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46296

i too have one insert that is beginning to loose it grip on the bolt. i'm probably going to go this route for all four at some point.

 

conan-
this solution was reported in another thread:

from this thread:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46296

i too have one insert that is beginning to loose it grip on the bolt. i'm probably going to go this route for all four at some point.

Thanks for that reference. I read that thread when I search for "rear diffuser bolt loose" but I missed that post in there. Now I need to google "helicoil thread" because I've never heard of doing that.

 

I put lock washers on mine.

 

Mine are staying put just fine now that I can tighten them.

 

You might also try rivet nuts for blind threaded holes into sheet metal