swaybar bolt broke-help

[hapnan1]

My passenger side sway bar bolt just broke off . I got the metal clip off it. Can I drive it a couple days (carefully) till I can get it fixed or am I doomed?

[69mach1377]

Need to know why it broke before a good answer can be provided.
It's pretty rare for that to happen I think.

[YMZ]

Originally Posted by 69mach1377

It's pretty rare for that to happen

Nope... we hear about this fairly often - usually from people in the Rust-Belt...

Originally Posted by hapnan1

My passenger side sway bar bolt just broke off

Were you in the process of replacing the bushing or did it just happen to break?

You may need to lower the subframe, although there may be other options...

I wouldn't drive too much... and not at high speed...

Yuri

[hapnan1]

Originally Posted by YMZ

Nope... we hear about this fairly often - usually from people in the Rust-Belt...
Were you in the process of replacing the bushing or did it just happen to break?

You may need to lower the subframe, although there may be other options...

I wouldn't drive too much... and not at high speed...

Yuri

Thanks.
I was NOT I had them replaced by a Mechanic. Last month. I believe he over did it? He used an air ratchet. The bolt is gone not just busted gone. The hole is clean. Looks like when he did it it must have stripped clean. One nice thing this car has done when breaking. Thanks. Loving this place more & more!

[YMZ]

Originally Posted by hapnan1

The bolt is gone not just busted gone. The hole is clean.

Is the welded nut still in place? They sometimes break off... if that was the case, the mechanic may have replaced it with a regular nut, which may have let loose...

Originally Posted by hapnan1

Loving this place more & more!

What's not to love?

Yuri

[hapnan1]

Originally Posted by YMZ

Is the welded nut still in place? They sometimes break off... if that was the case, the mechanic may have replaced it with a regular nut, which may have let loose...
What's not to love?

Yuri

Nope I was there it was the one that came out just little smother and rusty I hope they TDI guy I am suppose to see Saturday can fix it? Might just need to be tapped out and a new bolt ? I hope so this Lemon has been a PITA since I got it chipped. Or maybe the TDI guy I was bringing it too????

Again thanks. Love the How too threads as well !

Fred

[69mach1377]

Originally Posted by YMZ

Nope... we hear about this fairly often - usually from people in the Rust-Belt...
Yuri

Desert boy myself, so it does not happen here.
I would think that use of the correct alloy would prevent it in the future.

[YMZ]

Originally Posted by 69mach1377

I would think that use of the correct alloy would prevent it in the future.

Engineers (and more important: bean-counters) do make mistakes... I imagine you've heard about the balance shaft issue with your model Passat...

Cheers,

Yuri

[69mach1377]

Yes and it's been corrected, just like the OP should correct his with better hardware...

[hapnan1]

They TDI person that I was suppose to see Saturday seems to have
Not sure?
But I am having a shop in Winsted CT re tap the hole and fix this annoying Issue.
Thanks for advising that it was OK to carefully drive the car to & from work.

Fred