I stripped some aluminum threads somehow, is there anything I can do about it?

 

Helicoil kit

With this you drill the hole a little bigger, tap it with a new larger thread tap, and insert new threads into the hole. They work great. I'm a diesel mechanic and I've used these on a number of our trucks to repair A/C compressor mounts that have torn out. In fact, the guy where I buy the kits from said a lot of guys that have aluminum trailers will go through and helicoil all the bolts before they ripout because it's stronger than the factory threaded holes. I get mine from a bolt supplier that comes by our shop but you might ask at auto parts stores.

 

Yeah, I agree with the thread inserts. It's a really simple process and it usually works great. You can use the heli-coil/therma coil and there are a few others I've heard about.

I've used mainly heli-coil in our garage, and they have worked great. If you can use a tap, you can put the thread insert in...

 

yeah, what they said.

good luck finding the metrics to fit Nissans though. almost all the bolts on our cars are fine thread (especially aluminum ones, since that's engine and tranny).. but you can find them. check your larger hardware stores and tool/machine supply places. home depot and Lowes usually only have the common english threads, but no metrics.

it's the smaller mom & pop hardware stores that I can always find stuff like this.

 

I went looking for some metric taps and dies a few weeks ago. Napa actually had the best selection (including some heli-coil stuff). They would've special ordered anything I needed but I didn't want to wait. I also found an industrial fastener (read: nuts and bolts) supplier that had all the taps and dies I needed.

 

yup.. those are some of the best places to look... IF you have an industrial fastener shop locally. Even Houston doesn't have the metrics I need for some projects- have to order them from Dallas by the case.