98 V70: Pass. Side Metal Knee Bolster Refit Topic is solved

Post by **sleddriver** » 22 Aug 2016, 20:22

WTH?

Installed both nuts on the right side; no worries. However, It's been out so long I completely forgot the trick to get the left-side, upper nut onto the bolt shaft, through that CRAZY angle! I've been swearing at it for an hour now! #$%^@! Also tried thick grease to hold the nut onto an open end, while the other hand holds the mirror to see up in there. I shoved the IKEA mity-lite in the opposite end hole so I had some light in there.

And what's the deal with the lower, left-side stud? None of the nuts will fit it. Nearly stripped one. Might have misplaced it.....

What a Royal PITA......thanks Volvo!

Post by **sleddriver** » 22 Aug 2016, 22:01

Finally gave up....for now! I think what's necessary here is a 13mm, swivel, ratcheting box wrench....which I don't have.

Tomorrow I'm going to find a metric nut that fits on the LOWER stud (that's a different dia/pitch for some odd-Volvo reason), tighten it snuggly and forget about the upper bolt period.

So why go to all this effort if this piece was no longer used AFTER 99? Because I suspect it helps to stiffen the center console brackets that hold the radio, Dolby module, etc. I notice the hanging bracket (that's supposed to be attached to the #$%^& knee bolster) is loose. I noticed while under-the-dash for later models, a large-dia pipe was used that went across the lower dash, from side-to-side. Reinstalling the knee bolster on the driver side made all of the weird, floppy, steering wheel vibration go away. The S. wheel would even vibrate when starting! I thought the upper torque mounts were bad. They're both fine.

So as much as I think these metal knee bolsters are a royal #$%^& PITA, and I'd never drive without a seat-belt (nor let a passenger), it looks like they were meant for some lateral stability, definitely to stabilize the steering wheel mount, and to firm up the lower part of the center console. Therefore, it's going back in along with the lower trim. This will also reduce the noise level of the cabin fan when on.

Post by **erikv11** » 22 Aug 2016, 22:31

4th stud is usually open! Or, maybe you surmised that.

I have used a little 1/4 drive socket, no swivel, on the third one. Maybe the deep socket I'm not sure, but I know I've never had to get fancy with it.

Post by **scot850** » 22 Aug 2016, 22:50

One of the 2 left studs does not have a nut on it. It is held in by a ratchet like barb. Can't recall if it is the upper or lower one. Never needed anything other than an extension and socket (14 or 15mm possibly but again been a long time). erik is correct as usual.

Neil.

Post by **sleddriver** » 23 Aug 2016, 02:02

The barb is on the lower left one....exactly where it's not needed. Not enough room for even a 1/4 socket + wrench, much less a deep socket on upper left. FUBAR. Tried swapping bolster end-for-end; no joy. This is just stupid, ridiculous in three dimensions. Will querry indy tomorrow. Perhaps he has a nut that will fit LL stud?

Stupid things like this just drive me NUTS about this car.......

Post by **erikv11** » 23 Aug 2016, 07:44

Do you have the glove box out and the lower cover off? This isn't a hard one especially for someone with your experience and skill, something sounds fishy.

Post by **abscate** » 23 Aug 2016, 11:30

The nuts on the knee bolster fail after exactly 72,001 miles

giggle giggle giggle

Post by **scot850** » 23 Aug 2016, 11:57

Wow, you are not having any fun there are you!

It may make sense to remove the bolster again and check the threads for damage. It could be the end of the thread has become flattened and the nut cannot catch any longer on it.

I know these can be a pain to re-fit and it takes some luck to get the angle correct to align the nut and the threaded stud.

Normally, if I recall correctly, I put the LH end in first and then the RH end. I know you will have the lower cover removed as I don't think you can fit this otherwise!

That particular nut is always the one I found the hardest to align.

Neil.

Post by **sleddriver** » 23 Aug 2016, 19:50

No, I'm not. Glad that I temp. gave up last night. Note that the upper L stud threads are fine. Nut easily spins on. Problem is getting the nut ON it and torqued down once the bolster is on place, through that tiny hole.

Went to an old fashioned HW store and using their thread gauge it looks like the LL stud is a M8 x 1.5p, while the remaining three are M8 x 1.25p. They didn't have the former though.

Went to indy's shop. Don't stock them either. He said all four should be the same. Also noted that the nuts were oval and hard to start. However, I didn't have any issues with the three on three, just the-one-on-#four. He fussed a bit with the L upper nut, then gave up. So he zipped on a M8 x 1.25 nut onto the LL stud using an impact driver! (Bigger hammer approach....).

Works for me.

ERIKV11: Thanks for the kudo's! With that said, I sometimes trip myself over the smallest things and come crashing to the ground. I HATE it when that happens....