S13 - Tension Rod Bracket Bolt Spinning - Solutions ???

[overthenight]

Hey,

First post, searched, could not find anything specific to this issue with a solution.

Hit a curb going sideways in a parking lot. Fixed everything else, but front tension control bracket pushed forward and sheered those two bolts off that are circled in red in the pictures attached.

Tension control bracket was mostly fine, bent it back into shape. Replaced bolts.

My brother tapped one hole for the bolt on the left in picture, but mistakenly did it at an angle, bolt screws in at an angle but is tight and does work.

Bolt on the right screws in but cannot get tight, keeps spinning.

I took it to the shop after replacing everything to have suspension inspected and get an alignment, and they said that they wouldnt do alignment until this issue with the bolt on the right spinning is fixed.

I want to repair it so that everything is how it was before the accident.

Has anyone had this problem before? I am not sure if my front tension rod bracket needs to be replaced. I can take it off and take a picture of it, but I think it is fine.

Do I have to somehow replace the entire front radiator support? Or do I cut in and replace those two bolts welded on the inside? Has anyone done this before, and knows the way to fix this so that it looks clean and untouched afterwards?

incase pictures dont upload: https://imgur.com/a/1HKpoGM

[VStar650CL]

Depends why the bolt is spinning. If the threads are stripped and you can back it out, you can drill and tap to a larger size or use a helicoil to repair it. If the weld-nut is broken off on the inside you have a can of worms, but with one healthy bolt at each end, I think you can probably get away with using a rivet nut. The two healthy ones should preclude much of any side-side movement that could work a rivet-nut loose.