Peening D Nuts

midgetracer

midgetracer

Well-known member
I need to put D nuts back in my 29 roadster doors where they hold the door latch. I have some D nuts purchased some time ago. They seem to be too hard and will not peen over. I decided to weld them in and they melt at low temperature not allowing me to weld them. Are the currently available D nuts easier to install? I welcome any tips or tricks to install them. I am placing an order for some now from a reputable vendor. Thanks.
 
I've thought about modifying a nut to spread out the inlet when screwed down, similar to the way you install brass grommets, but I've not gotten beyond thinking about it. I recall someone on this forum suggested using a riveting hammer at one point.

Not a D-nut, but McMaster-Carr lists 12-24 rivnuts (other sizes as well, confirm what you need) and the proper installation tool as an alternative.
 
I think Tacoma Bob has a good idea. All you need is to keep them in place until the screw is installed and the screw will hold the D nut in place after that. You could use the D nuts you already have. BTW, I wouldn't use rivnuts and I am not sure they would work anyway.
Rusty Nelson
 
Unfortunately, ...the proper (i.e.: best) way to install a Clinch D Nut is with the proper tool made specifically for this type fastener. You must be able to thread into the nut and then use the leverage of the tool to pull the Clinch Nut upward against the tip of the tool which swages the lip and makes it tight in the crossmember. From experience, trying to peen them in just distorts them and gets them out of alignment.
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C said:
Unfortunately, ...the proper (i.e.: best) way to install a Clinch D Nut is with the proper tool made specifically for this type fastener. You must be able to thread into the nut and then use the leverage of the tool to pull the Clinch Nut upward against the tip of the tool which swages the lip and makes it tight in the crossmember. From experience, trying to peen them in just distorts them and gets them out of alignment.
Click to expand...
Brent - is the "proper tool made specifically for this type fastener" for the D-nuts the same tool used for RivNuts (for example, this one from the River Store)? I did a Google search for "clinch nut tool" and this is what came up.
 
Many years ago I bought a box of D-nuts from LeBaron Bonney.I spotted them on the counter,and asked about them.Those things seemed to be cast from something,they wouldn't crimp,but would crumble.I have no idea what they were made of.I have a thread setter I bought probably in the early 80's.Works good,have hung a lot of car mirrors with it.I remember that I paid a LOT of money for it back then.I have used those long handled ones,and I like them.You just have to careful,with all that leverage you can easily set the nutsert crooked,you won't feel it in your hands.
 

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I've always used a large steel ball and a C-clamp to install them. The steel ball pushes the edge over to hold the nut tight and a large C-clamp will give the push.
Large 1 1/2" or so steel balls can be found on Amazon for a few dollars
 
wrndln said:
I think Tacoma Bob has a good idea. All you need is to keep them in place until the screw is installed and the screw will hold the D nut in place after that. You could use the D nuts you already have. BTW, I wouldn't use rivnuts and I am not sure they would work anyway.
Rusty Nelson
Click to expand...

Rivnuts do work, I used them on my tudor and my dads phaeton when I fitted LH tail lights. I couldn't get behind the panel to support a D nut, so installed rivnuts. I was fitting LH tail lights to RHD cars, so there are only RH tail lights from the factory.
 
Guess I've been doing it wrong.

I just use a fender washer under the screw head to pull the D nut through the punchout, where it stays until I attach something to it. Easy peasy. Works for me.
 
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