S13 RUCA installation question

[los_inc]

i installed my PBM ruca's in the process i found this strange bolt that connacts the ruca to the subframe i was wondering if it could possible be replaced by a new normal grade 8 bolt?

car does not have HICAS. the nissan part number for the bolt in question Part number: 55226-S13002


thanks again
-los

[LongGrain]

its called a cam bolt. its how camber is adjusted with factory RUCA's

i dont know if it can be replaced with a normal bolt.

[hailandkill]

When are we painting your subframe pink? =D

[Def]

I'm guessing your car is HICAS. They have those weird weights on the bolts. You can order a non-HICAS S13 RUCA bolt from the dealer and lose that nasty weight.

And your bolt on spacers make baby jesus cry.

[5t341tH]

my car has those too. i think its for adjusting camber for stock ruca's

[los_inc]

i wanna rip them out and just run a same size regular bolt since i have aftermarket control arms which allow me to adjust camber
thanks again
-los

[Def]

Originally Posted by los_inc

i wanna rip them out and just run a same size regular bolt since i have aftermarket control arms which allow me to adjust camber
thanks again
-los

Look at the slotted holes in your subframes. Then think about what a regular bolt would do in that hole...

If you want to get rid of the retardo weight bolt(which is Nissans poor attempt at vibration control), then order a non-HICAS eccentric bolt.

[Dousan_PG]

do NOT get rid of that bolt
or ur regular bolt will move all over and throw the cmber off

leave it

[los_inc]

Originally Posted by Dousan_PG

do NOT get rid of that bolt
or ur regular bolt will move all over and throw the cmber off

leave it

alright i guess it stays
thanks for all the help
time to paint it pink
-los

[projectRDM]

You guys all fail.

Buy large fender washers to fit on either side of the subframe to fit the recessed area, then use a regular bolt. Works fine, I do it one every car I put adjustable arms on. Eccentric bolts are shit, if they're overtightened they usually strip the washer and can't be removed easily.

As far as the weird bolt, it's not a HICAS only thing, a lot of S13s have them. I've seen them on probably 20-30 cars I've either worked on or parted out. I have no clue though what it is.

[Matej]

Originally Posted by projectRDM

Buy large fender washers to fit on either side of the subframe to fit the recessed area, then use a regular bolt.

That's what I did. The fender washers fit perfectly, and I used hardened bolts from Ace Hardware.

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by Matej

That's what I did. The fender washers fit perfectly, and I used hardened bolts from Ace Hardware.

Thank you. I like seeing other people who have common sense.

[Def]

Originally Posted by projectRDM

You guys all fail.

Buy large fender washers to fit on either side of the subframe to fit the recessed area, then use a regular bolt. Works fine, I do it one every car I put adjustable arms on. Eccentric bolts are shit, if they're overtightened they usually strip the washer and can't be removed easily.

As far as the weird bolt, it's not a HICAS only thing, a lot of S13s have them. I've seen them on probably 20-30 cars I've either worked on or parted out. I have no clue though what it is.

The weight is Nissan's cheap attempt at more subframe vibration absorption. Like the rubber/steel mass dynamic vibration absorbers on the front of an S14 subframe, only more ghetto on the S13 version where they just used a couple of masses stuck around.

I'd be a bit worried if I was driving my car hard and the washer wasn't the exact diameter to fit in the recess. Too big and you're putting a huge shear stress around the RUCA mounting point.


A new eccentric bolt from Nissan probably isn't retardedly expensive, and you can adjust the RUCA to be as short as possible to maximize camber gain under travel.

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by Def

The weight is Nissan's cheap attempt at more subframe vibration absorption. Like the rubber/steel mass dynamic vibration absorbers on the front of an S14 subframe, only more ghetto on the S13 version where they just used a couple of masses stuck around.

I'd be a bit worried if I was driving my car hard and the washer wasn't the exact diameter to fit in the recess. Too big and you're putting a huge shear stress around the RUCA mounting point.


A new eccentric bolt from Nissan probably isn't retardedly expensive, and you can adjust the RUCA to be as short as possible to maximize camber gain under travel.

The washers I use are thick, and I trim the sides down just a hair to fit tightly in the recess. Obviously it has to fit right or it has no value at all, but I do think some people would read 'washer' and just stick anything in there. That's part of the problem when coming up with solutions, not everyone uses common sense. You could also weld the washers in place which would really solve the issue. I've just been really against eccentric bolts ever since I had to drop a subframe to beat one out that was installed wrong and overtightened.

Plus, and this is only for people who really fail, taking it to an alignment place gives the technician an excuse to play with the bolt and not use the arm for what it's intended for because it's more complicated to do so. Hopefully most people use a competent alignment shop but there's plenty of shortcutters on here who don't. Giving someone two points to adjust seems to be a waste of time when only one is needed.