How to take out dead bolts - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

EEngineer · 07-09-2008, 02:38 PM

ok, it's been bugging me for a while now.

My car haven't had rust proofing done, so it's been rusting quite a bit everywhere. In the engine bay, there are a few bolts that have seized and when i tried to take something apart the bolthead snapped off and all that's left is a piece of iron stick with thread stuck somewhere...it's really really pissing me off.

I want to take them out, but I don't really know how exactly.

cann't be too expensive, but i suppose i will have to buy a powertool

anyone shed some light?

midnightmach · 07-09-2008, 02:40 PM

Any type of liquid wrench. PB Blaster for example.

EEngineer · 07-09-2008, 02:41 PM

^that will just loosen it.

how do i take it out out...like completely out

wtftoy · 07-09-2008, 02:52 PM

Drill bit bolt extractor. You can get them at home depot, lowes...etc

CamBOT · 07-09-2008, 04:42 PM

You reallly need a powertool. You never know when you'll need it

I just bought another one. its on sale at home depot. $ 99.00

Hitachi 18V Cordless Hammer drill with extra battery.

Its badass drills through concrete like butter.

Venom_5 · 07-09-2008, 05:10 PM

drill it ... cut it ... thread into it and screw something in & remove would probably be the way id do it ... replace the whole part

EEngineer · 07-09-2008, 06:09 PM

that sounds good....drill bit extractor

Hajoca · 07-10-2008, 09:07 AM

What bolt did you break?

Zviator · 07-10-2008, 02:49 PM

WD40 is recommended for such thing, u can find them at home depot or pepboy.

EEngineer · 07-10-2008, 07:03 PM

a few holding the headlight housing

CamrySExxx · 07-10-2008, 07:08 PM

yea get a extractor, they work wonders

Venom_5 · 07-10-2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EEngineer

a few holding the headlight housing

the silver ones that are more like oversized screws? how did you break those...

cykaaro · 07-11-2008, 12:56 AM

There are a few ways you can remove broken off bolts.

Firstly getting yourself a can of PB blaster [it's about the best]. WD40 won't work as it doesn't penetrate and only diffuses moisture. There are a couple other good products but can't be purchased as a consumer. Before you go to remove any bolt, give it a good spraying and give it time to soak in. For larger more rusted bolts you KNOW will give you issues, spray over a few days and allow it to really penetrate. It's amazing how well this stuff works, and you'll have a lot less broken bolts.

Now since you have already broken the bolt, still spray it to loosen the hold the rust has on it. Ensure you give it some time to really penetrate the threads to make removal easier. As mentioned above a few methods, here is a short list.

did it leave enough sticking out to be able to use vice grips on it? Not always a preferable method, but in some cases effective, usually on smaller bolts and screws
another method is welding a nut onto the protruding end of the damaged bolt. Again, spray liberally with PB Blaster and unbolt it. This method is great if you have some of the bolt still sticking out and are able to weld the nut on.
next is using an extracting bit. These work quite well, but you must ensure you're very accurate in placing it dead center or the broken bolt or you can have trouble extracting. You need to mark the dead center of the bolt so that the drill bit will be able to grab hold and drill straight down the center of the bolt stem. Drill it down then use the extracting tool to get it out.
now, the other method which isn't always the way to go if you can help it, but sometimes necessary. You basically drill out the stem of the bolt. Once this is done, you re-thread the hole. Sometimes you can get it threaded the same as it was, but more often than not you have to use a slightly bigger bolt/thread size

Good luck!