Window channel nut thingamajig

[Dr. Overkill]

I got into the driver side door on my 97 hoe to replace a broken interior handle. I noticed that the metal window channel thing (I don't know what it's called) was spaced out with 3 nuts. I suspect the stereo shop did that when they put in the bigger midrange speakers so the window would clear it.

Kinda mickey-mouse, but whatever, it works. But when I was putting everything back together later, the long screw that goes in there stripped. I pulled everything back apart to find that this squared off nut with a small shoulder/ledge on two sides had come off the channel and fallen to the bottom of the door.





I have no idea how the nut was attached to the channel or how i'm going to put it back on there. JB Weld? Anyone have a suggestion? I know I'm going to JB Weld those 3 spacer nuts together, though--the first time I closed the door without that bolt in there, the nuts fell down into the door, requiring my pulling everything back off again and fishing them out with a magnet. Now I have the long bolt set in loosely--it keeps the nuts in place but it rattles like crazy. Ug.

 

[muskymike3]

I just worked on mine today. the nut was loose and the bracket was bent. I bent it back to what I thought was correct and with the help of my son put that nut in the square hole and with a punch crimped the nut back in. as long as it stays in place until you get the bolt started you should be OK. the bottom bracket I think with the window up you could also reach behind and hold a nut in place if you have to.

Nice design

Mike

 

[Dr. Overkill]

Wow, how did the bracket bend??? And how did you get in there with a punch--doesn't the nut go on the backside of that bracket?

 

[muskymike3]

I had to remove the bracket it is held in by 2 bolts not hard to get out but it's no picnic of a job. Once it was out I laid the bracket on a flat surface and put the nut in place yes it does go in from behind. I was able to use the punch to just snug up the nut in the bracket. Once you reinstall it and tighten the bolt it will be fine.

I think the bracket bent when the window came out of the channel and dropped on one side. trying to run the window made matters worse.

Nothing like working inside car doors only thing better is heater cores.

hope the info helped
Mike

 

[Dr. Overkill]

Thanks for the tips. Can you take that channel out with the glass still in the door? I assume you keep the window rolled up?