GRRRRR aHHHHHH, stupid bolt!!!!

jaminb · 03-29-2008, 03:42 PM

so i snapped the bolt of my steering stabilizer about a week ago, and decided to take a run at getting it out yesterday and today, i drilled through it to the right size to try and use one of those bolt extractors, well that didn't work. I can not for the life of me get this out!! So my question is, is it ok to drill out the entire bolt and then re thread the hole? wont i have to get a larger bolt to go in the hole? which then would not fit in the steering stabilizer.

So im open to suggestions

Alfons · 03-29-2008, 05:10 PM

I've found the bolt extractors to be next to useless on seized bolts. They're OK if you break a bolt by over torquing it, when the threads are relatively clean. To move a seized bolt that has been broken, I use some combination of the following steps, they normally work without attempting to drill out the bolt:

Apply penetrating oil on the threads for a couple of days, then try with an impact gun if the bolt isn't broken (if it is, go on to the next step).
Take a center punch and good size hammer and hit the center of the broken bolt hard a few times - at this point (in your case), you can try the extractor again, but be careful not to break it.
Weld a nut to the top of the broken bolt - sometimes I start with a thick washer (it's generally easier to melt it onto the top of the bolt), then add a good sized nut to the washer & use a socket to remove it.
Use an impact gun (forward and reverse), preferably before the bolt is broken, otherwise, use it on the nut you've welded on.
If all the above fail, you can go through the process of removing the bolt & using a heli-coil to get back to the thread size you want. The problem with just drilling and re-tapping, is that you never get the drill centered or make the hole straight, so when you tap the new hole, you'll end up with a thread pattern that's not all that strong. The helicoil kit includes the tap & drill, a few coils, and the insertion tool - they aren't cheap but they work well. You can use some permanent lock-tite on the coil, just make sure you insert it in one attempt, or remove it and try again.

WGLWRM · 03-29-2008, 06:02 PM

I know how you feel. Mine was shot, so I ordered a rancho stabilizer, thinking it would be an easy swap. The only easy part was taking the new one out of the box.
When I went to take off the bolt, snap, as with 95% of the bolts that I have taken off. Anyways, I drilled it out. It was a pain in the butt, went through 3 drill bits but it finally came out. Then as I went to put in the new bolt that came with the rancho, the bolt was one size to big. So i had to tap the hole out, yet another pain in the butt.

A lot of elbow grease, a few four letter words and it was good as new.

**lobukjeep** · 03-29-2008, 07:45 PM

Do you have acess to a torch?I haven't found anything that a torch couldn't get out.Heat is the ultimate wrench.Heat it, throw an extractor on it and remove it.Just try not to heat your extractor up too much.

jaminb · 03-29-2008, 08:51 PM

i have tried every single thing you guys mentioned. I have been working on it for 2 days and probably a total of 11 hours. Im done with it, anyone run with out them, that is still spring under axle and its there DD?

pat8942 · 03-29-2008, 09:18 PM

Are you talking about the bolt that is on the drivers side?
If so it's like a ball joint or tie rod end it's tapered and it has to be pushed out.
If you have some material left on the stud just try to pound it out but support the drag link first so it doesn't absorb your hammer hits.
You can figure out what I mean.
If you ever want a real treat change a XJ front track bar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaminb

i have tried every single thing you guys mentioned. I have been working on it for 2 days and probably a total of 11 hours. Im done with it, anyone run with out them, that is still spring under axle and its there DD?

jaminb · 03-29-2008, 10:53 PM

no i got that out fine with a tie rod puller, i broke the other bolt that mounts above the leaf spring. I have about had it with this jeep. Im on a high school kids budget, with no help from mommy and daddy. Every thing i go to replace ends up costing me 2 or 3 times as much, i about ready to throw in the towel.