snaped bolt.. what to do?

1281 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Zokambaa, Feb 6, 2009

Ghostly

Discussion Starter · Feb 3, 2009

i had to take off my radiator because i went down and wanted to check it out a bit more thoroughly.. i take it off.. everything seems fine.. i go to put it back and as im tightning the top bolt on the right it snaps off... now i have no clue what to do.. should i try and drill it out? or take it to a pro?... its the bolt that holds the radiator to the frame.. help please!

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Lost1888

· #2 · Feb 3, 2009

Did it break off flush with the top of the treads in the frame?

Zokambaa

· #3 · Feb 3, 2009

Ghostly said:
i had to take off my radiator because i went down and wanted to check it out a bit more thoroughly.. i take it off.. everything seems fine.. i go to put it back and as im tightning the top bolt on the right it snaps off... now i have no clue what to do.. should i try and drill it out? or take it to a pro?... its the bolt that holds the radiator to the frame.. help please!

Did you scream and throw a hissy fit yet?? that always helps....

then if iisn't an easy fix I's take it to a shop and get a supposed pro to fix it... then if they screw it up you have someone to blame

tcl

· #4 · Feb 3, 2009

If you can move the radiator out of the way an enough of it is poking out of the frame, you might be able to grab it with vice grips. Otherwise, you'll need to go buy an easy out and drill bit for the easy out if you don't already have one. Google easy out bolt remover or something along those lines.

EdoMedo

· #5 · Feb 3, 2009

I recently had a sheared bolt on my rear brake calliper mount. If the head is snapped off within the bore, It should be possible to remove with a bolt removal kit. I picked one up at a local auto supply. It looks like a double headed drill bit, fits into a hand held drill chuck, and if you read the instructions carefully, works like a charm. Cost me about $15 and took about 1/2 hour. Use patience! Good luck.

NextSV

· #6 · Feb 3, 2009

Normally I would say drill it, but b/c the radiator mounts directly onto the frame, there is no way to use a bolt if you screw up. Don't know what a shop would charge, but if it is more than $35 you could just buy the tools to do it yourself. Simply drill out the bolt. If it crumbles and leaves the threads, just put in a new bolt. If you drill out the threads use this tool :
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_... & Dies&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a
To put new threads into the frame. Then screw in a new bolt and your done. Now you will have the tools in case you do it again

Never used the tool EDOMEDO listed, but sounds promising. Maybe try his tool first

Lost1888

· #7 · Feb 3, 2009

tcl said:
If you can move the radiator out of the way an enough of it is poking out of the frame, you might be able to grab it with vice grips. Otherwise, you'll need to go buy an easy out and drill bit for the easy out if you don't already have one. Google easy out bolt remover or something along those lines.

If you do decide to drill it out and use an easy out make sure you use a punch to set a small indent (pilot) into the center of the bolt. Then use small drill bits going up to the size your easy out recommends. Take your time and drill straight.

tcl

· #8 · Feb 3, 2009

Lost1888 said:
If you do decide to drill it out and use an easy out make sure you use a punch to set a small indent (pilot) into the center of the bolt. Then use small drill bits going up to the size your easy out recommends. Take your time and drill straight.

On the subject of easyouts, Use the largesy one you can possibly use. I was once worried about damaging the surrounding threads and used once that was too small (so it would only require a small hole) and the ****ed thing broke off in the hole. They are made of metal that is only slightly less hard then most drill bits so removing one that is broken off in the hole is a huge PITA.

Lost1888

· #9 · Feb 3, 2009

tcl said:
On the subject of easyouts, Use the largest one you can possibly use. I was once worried about damaging the surrounding threads and used once that was too small (so it would only require a small hole) and the ****ed thing broke off in the hole. They are made of metal that is only slightly less hard then most drill bits so removing one that is broken off in the hole is a huge PITA.

+1 DON'T BREAK ANY TOOL OFF IN THE HOLE!!!

fafaforza

· #10 · Feb 3, 2009

Are you able to remove the radiator? If so, you might be able to use vice grips to screw it out, as tlc pointed out.

If it is flush, get a set of left handed Cobalt drill bits. Amazon has a nice set:

http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Cobalt-...ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1233631505&sr=8-4

Also get a center punch (automatic or not). I got a nice one at Autozone for like $15,complete with a chisel, a manual punch, and some other types. Here's one on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-Pocket-Automatic-Center/dp/B00004T7RJ

Punch a pilot hole as perfectly centered as you can, then drill it in the reverse direction. With any luck, as you move up bit sizes and go deeper and the bit starts biting harder, the bolt will come out by itself without using ez-outs.

These tools are good to have as you'll likely break a lot more bolts in the future.

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bighammer

· #11 · Feb 3, 2009

A generous blob of construction adhesive would hold your radiator on. :tard:

Lost1888

· #12 · Feb 3, 2009

bighammer said:
A generous blob of construction adhesive would hold your radiator on. :tard:

Yeah a little PL 400 fixes all kinds of stuff. Heck might as well use some JB Weld.

Ghostly

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 4, 2009

havent been able to check this.. but..
the bolt head broke off.. the bolt is flush with the frame..
drilled a tiny hole in the middle so far.. going to pick up a bolt remover bit thing tmrw lol..
but besides that.. the radiator is OFF.. and is no where in the way..
its just me, the bolt, and a few tools.. lol

we'll see how it turns out

Haas

· #14 · Feb 5, 2009

+1 on the left handed drill bits. I've used extractors without much luck, but the left handed drill bits have yet to fail me. I don't usually try to drill all the way through the length of the bolt, but I do start with a pretty small bit and drill in maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch and then repeat with larger bits until one bites.

Zokambaa

· #15 · Feb 6, 2009

Zip ties and duct tape work well too...

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