Stuck, broken strut bolt.

[deafanddiabetic]

Hey guys,

I successfully did my left rear strut replacement thanks to your help and how-to guides. But, the bottom 17mm bolt on my last strut were just stuck. I propane torched them, PB Blaster, breaker bar, air impact wrench, nothing.

Finally, the bolt broke the head off. It was so freakin' rusted &$(@#&#@% tight that the head of the bolt broke off. I ended up shaving off both ends because the nut end broke clean off, too. I tried cleaning them off with an angle grinder so that I could fit a drill bit in there better.

So what I'm stuck with is the hole filled with a broken bolt.

I tried buying Cobalt drill bits to drill it out, but they barely make a dent. I've got this thing glowing hot with a torch and pounded and twisted and drilled but it's not going anywhere.

What the heck do I do now? I'm so bummed at the amount of rust down there, and I spent 11 hours on JUST THE BOLTS today.

I need a drink.

 

[Jackie chan]

haha oh my god, that really sucks.

 

[Jackie chan]

haha oh my god, that really sucks. you might need to pull it and use a press.

 

[pcb]

You might wanna consider getting a used one from a junker. (yours looks a little hacked up from the grinder anyway)

Removing the part from the wreck might be a problem too, so bring your big ass tools...

If you still wanna play with it,... I'd try the heat again with a big punch and hammer. Removing it from the car (if you didn't already) should help to pound the snot out of it easier. (there's a lot of other stuff to disconnect to get it off though)



You might wanna try one of these,... Maybe try a small grinder bit to make a dedent in the center of the stud so your tool doesn't wobble.(being as your drill bits don't work.)

 

[deafanddiabetic]

I have not removed that hub assembly yet, I'm a little scared to do so because of the rust situation. I have a Mazda salvage in my town that might be able to help. What is that "part" called exactly?

 

[pcb]

,.. What is that "part" called exactly? ...

Hub Spindle...

Yea,... there's a lot of crap that has to be removed (and possibly replaced when it crumbles) to get to it.

You might wanna try a gear puller first,... they're not too much money.

 

[pcb]

It may be easier (if you do replace it) to replace the whole thing including the hub and bearing if it's still good.

You might find it easier too, to grab lateral links and other parts if they come apart easier at the other end ???

Keep in mind the ABS sensor which your car or the junker may or may not have. (that's mostly the toothed gear on the hub)

You may wreck your bearing (hub assembly) pulling it off then re-installing it on a new spindle,... guys have needed gear pullers to remove them,... that can damage the bearing.

 

[Valk]

big c clamp. use a socked on the one end the capture the bolt as you press it out. defintiely try to grind a divot in one side but it should press out with a clamp. once oyu get it started you could resume hammering with a punch of somekind but a clamp should get it out.

 

[The_big_dill]

Did you try removing the strut bolt by spinning out the bolt side first?

From experience, those bolts are splined, so you won't be able to spin them out. You always take the nut off and push out the bolt.

 

[Valk]

None of mine are splined. But they were damn tight.

 

[The_big_dill]

None of mine are splined. But they were damn tight.

To clarify, my experience was on another car, but it doesn't hurt to keep it as common practice

 

[deafanddiabetic]

Luckily, I was able to take the whole knuckle assembly to a mechanic friend who got it hot with something stronger than propane and he said with one whack the bolt came right now.

I'm not back on the road!