2025-08-07

Grounding Stud - Shock Tower - Front - LH (Restore)

Correction Code 10102808

  • 2025-08-07: Released new procedure.

Special tools required for this procedure:

Part Number Description
1120017-00-A Bolt, HF M8X29
1080554-00-A Hand reamer / deburring - 3/4" head North America, APAC only
1080554-01-A Hand reamer / deburring tool Europe only
1127193-00-A Kit, ground stud repair
1099760-00-A Lube, cutting 4 oz North America only
1106057-00-A Lube, cutting 400 g Canada only
1099760-01-A Lube, cutting 8 oz Canada only
1028556-00-A Primer, self-etching, green 15 oz North America, APAC only
1111025-00-A Primer, self-etching, green lq, 946 mL Europe only
1076927-00-A Resistance meter, microohm, Hioki RM 3548
1118500-00-A Riv-nut M8, THK HD
1127191-01-A Setting tool, hydraulic, M8 riv-nut
1054112-00-A Tool, wire scratch brush Europe only
1081542-00-A Wire brush North America, APAC only
Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
Warning
Drilling outside of the area specified in this procedure might compromise vehicle crash safety.
Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
Note
This procedure shows the LH front shock tower grounding stud repair process from inside of the frunk area. The grounding stud repair process is similar from the LH front wheel arch side.
Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
Note
The illustrations in this procedure show the LH front shock tower. Locations are similar for the RH shock tower.

Repair

  1. Determine the necessary steps to gain access to the LH front shock tower grounding stud repair area:
    • If the appropriate tools are available to drill a new grounding stud hole in the shock tower from inside of the frunk area, remove the 12V battery bracket beam to access the grounding stud repair area. See 12V Battery Bracket Beam (Remove and Replace).
      Figure 1. Broken grounding stud
    • If the appropriate tools are not available to drill a new grounding stud hole in the front shock tower from inside of the frunk area, remove the LH front air spring module to access the grounding stud repair area from the LH front wheel arch side. See .
  2. Use a wire brush to clean all corrosion from the grounding strap connector. If the remaining connector is severely pitted or deformed, replace the connector.
    Figure 2. Grounding strap connector
  3. Rework the LH front shock tower grounding stud repair area:
    Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
    Warning
    Wear protective eyewear and hearing protection when drilling.
    Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
    Warning
    Only drill through the shock tower. Drilling too far can result in damage to the vehicle.
    Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
    CAUTION
    Do not use excessive force on the drill. Use steady, medium pressure and drill speed to allow the drill bit to cut the material. If the pressure on the drill is excessive or the drill speed is too low, the cut hole is more likely to be torn and out-of-round.
    1. Verify that the grounding strap has an appropriate amount of length to reach the new grounding stud location above the damaged stud.
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      CAUTION
      Make sure that the grounding strap does not rub against any surrounding structures or wire harnesses.
      Figure 3. Grounding strap
    2. Starting at the upper edge of the harness support clip, measure 50 mm towards the top of the LH front shock tower, and then mark the new grounding stud hole location.
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      CAUTION
      Make sure that the new grounding stud hole location is vertically aligned with the damaged stud (blue).
      Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
      Note
      The 50 mm mark indicates the center line of the new grounding stud hole (yellow).
    3. Use cutting lube and the step drill bit to start a new grounding stud hole at the mark made in the previous step.
    4. Use the 13.5 mm reduced shank drill bit to enlarge and finish the new grounding stud hole.
    5. Use the deburring tool to clean and chamfer the new grounding stud hole.
    6. Use a small-diameter (50 mm) medium-abrasive surface conditioning disc to remove the e-coat from around the new grounding stud hole (yellow).
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      Warning
      Remove the e-coat in a well-ventilated area. Wear suitable personal protective equipment.
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      CAUTION
      Do not use a conditioning disc that has been used on any material other than e-coat and aluminum.
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      CAUTION
      Within 2 hours of removing the e-coat, prime all abraded areas. If the abraded areas are not primed within 2 hours, they must be abraded again to remove any oxidation.
    7. Use a clean towel to remove dirt and debris from around the new grounding stud hole.
    8. Use Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) wipes to remove cutting lube from around the new grounding stud hole.
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      CAUTION
      Wipe off any remaining IPA with a clean, dry towel immediately after application.
  4. Use a small-diameter (50 mm) medium-abrasive surface conditioning disc to remove the paint from the mating surface of the new rivet nut to ensure conductivity.
  5. Use a clean towel to remove dirt and debris from the new rivet nut.
  6. Use the rivet nut hand or hydraulic installation tool to install the new rivet nut into the grounding stud hole. Make sure that the rivet nut is seated flush to the surface of the LH front shock tower.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    The illustrations in this step show the LH front rail grounding stud. Locations are similar for the LH front shock tower.
    Option 1: Hand installation tool Option 2: Hydraulic installation tool
    Figure 4. Installation hand tool, riv-nut, M8
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    This tool is part of 1127193-00-A Kit, ground stud repair.
    Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
    CAUTION
    In these steps, do not use a wrench to tighten the rivet nut tool unless otherwise instructed.
    1. If necessary, turn the hollow bolt counterclockwise into the nut to assemble the tool.
    2. Insert the long bolt through the hollow bolt of the assembled tool.
    3. Thread the M8 cap screw into the rivet nut and hand tighten.
    4. Insert the rivet nut, with the tool attached, into the hole.




    5. Use a 22 mm open end wrench to hold the nut.
      Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
      TIp
      If needed, a clamp can be used to brace the wrench across the front rail.
    6. Use a torque wrench with an 18 mm deep socket to turn the hollow bolt clockwise.
      55 Nm (40.6 lbs-ft)
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      CAUTION
      The tool must remain perpendicular to the hole during the install.




    7. Remove the long bolt from the tool to release the rivet nut.
    Figure 5. 1127191-01-A Setting tool, hydraulic, M8 riv-nut
    1. If necessary, install the threaded stud adapter onto the tool.
    2. Attach the rivet nut to the tool with the face of the rivet nut toward the tool.
    3. Insert the rivet nut, with the tool attached, into the hole.
    4. Squeeze the larger handles together to pump the tool. Pump until the handles click and stay together.
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      CAUTION
      The tool must remain perpendicular to the hole during the install.
    5. Squeeze the smaller handle to release pressure from the rivet nut.
    6. Turn the knob on the tool to remove the tool from the rivet nut.
    Figure 6. Uncompressed and compressed rivet nuts
    Figure 7. Installed rivet nut
  7. Use the Hioki resistance meter to measure the face of the rivet nut to the abraded aluminum surface of the LH front shock tower for resistance in milliohms.
    • If the value displayed is greater than 0.1 milliohm (0.0001 ohm), measure at another location.
    • If the value displayed is still greater than 0.1 milliohm, replace the rivet nut.
  8. Attach the grounding strap to the rivet nut using the new bolt.
    12 Nm (8.8 lbs-ft)
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    The rivet nut requires more torque than the original grounding stud.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    The illustration in this step shows the LH front rail grounding stud. Location is similar for the LH front shock tower.
  9. Use the Hioki resistance meter to measure an exposed spot on the grounding strap connector to the same abraded aluminum surface of the LH front shock tower for resistance in milliohms.
    • If the value displayed is greater than 0.1 milliohm (0.0001 ohm), measure at another location.
    • If the value displayed is still greater than 0.1 milliohm, replace the rivet nut.
  10. Paint the abraded area.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    The illustrations in this step show the LH front rail grounding stud. Locations are similar for the LH front shock tower.
    Option 1: Spray paint Option 2: Brush paint
    1. Remove the wires from the new hole.
    2. Mask the face of the rivet nut.
      Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
      Note
      For optimum grounding, the face of the rivet nut must be clean and clear of any paint.
    3. Mask any other components in the area.
    4. Spray 3 coats of self-etching primer on all abraded aluminum. Wait 5 minutes between coats.
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      CAUTION
      Make sure there is no exposed aluminum.
    5. Use the new grounding strap bolt to secure the grounding strap to the rivet nut.
      12 Nm (8.8 lbs-ft)
    1. Mask any components in the area.
      Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
      Note
      For optimum grounding, the face of the rivet nut must be clean and clear of any paint.
    2. Carefully brush up to 6 coats of self-etching primer on all abraded aluminum. Wait 6 minutes between coats.
      Warning IconA warning icon, calling your attention to a possibly risky situation
      CAUTION
      Make sure there is no exposed aluminum.
  11. After the primer completely dries, remove the mask material.