Long story short, I broke off one shackle hanger bolt and one steering box bracket bolt while trying to replace my springs.
I tried everything to remove them except for welding on a nut (I don't have a welder). Penetrating oil for weeks, mapp gas, nice vice grips, squaring off the part of the bolt sticking out to get a wrench on it, and finally drilling.
I used craftsman titanium coated drill bits with oil to lubricate, and I ended up breaking 4 bits. So finally I just whacked one with a hammer a few times and knocked the nut off the inside of the frame and pulled it out through one of the access holes. I was then able to use a vice grip and wrench to get the bolt free. Pretty frustrating that I was able to get the bolt out once it was already off the jeep.
Would it be ill advised to reuse the nut(s) if I clean them out? The nice thing is they have a round mounting surface that lines them up perfectly in the bolt holes. Can I find these kinds of nuts anywhere else?
1985 CJ7, 4.2 I6, Carter BBD, T-176/Dana 300, Dana 30/AMC 20 w/2.73 gears, 33" BFG AT's, YJ Family Style Rollbar
I tried everything to remove them except for welding on a nut (I don't have a welder). Penetrating oil for weeks, mapp gas, nice vice grips, squaring off the part of the bolt sticking out to get a wrench on it, and finally drilling.
I used craftsman titanium coated drill bits with oil to lubricate, and I ended up breaking 4 bits. So finally I just whacked one with a hammer a few times and knocked the nut off the inside of the frame and pulled it out through one of the access holes. I was then able to use a vice grip and wrench to get the bolt free. Pretty frustrating that I was able to get the bolt out once it was already off the jeep.
Would it be ill advised to reuse the nut(s) if I clean them out? The nice thing is they have a round mounting surface that lines them up perfectly in the bolt holes. Can I find these kinds of nuts anywhere else?
1985 CJ7, 4.2 I6, Carter BBD, T-176/Dana 300, Dana 30/AMC 20 w/2.73 gears, 33" BFG AT's, YJ Family Style Rollbar