Broken Sway Bar bracket bolt

[dave1811]

Was trying to replace the sway bar bracket bushings on my 99 Camry 4 cylinder w/173K miles. The first bolt I tried to unbolt broke at the bracket level. Had soaked it in PB Blaster but I guess not long enough. Any suggestions on how best to get it out? Very frustrating, almost makes me want to just take it in and have a shop replace them & the sway bar links. I hate rust!

[RichieRichJP]

Rent a tap and die set and go to work on it.

[fenixus]

go to Harbor Freight Tools, get a set of left hand drill bits and a cordless drill 18V at like $12 on promo (up to $39 regular), get also a spring loaded Center Punch tool.

http://www.harborfreight.com/13-piec...set-95146.html


http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt...uck-67024.html


http://www.harborfreight.com/spring-...punch-621.html


punch a hole in broken stud, right in center with a Center Punch. start with small drill bit (not smallest) and start drilling straight through on reverse. when you have a small hole, switch to bigger drill bit and so on, until the stud catches and starts spinning out.

use LOTS of PB Blaster before you start, and keep drill bits covered in e.g. motor oil, it helps.

removed a few studs/bolts like that easily.

if you end up with a broken bolt/stud and a big hole in it and it still won't budge, then get an extractor set with T-handle and remove it manually, it will go eventually.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piec...set-40349.html


T-handles
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece...hes-38560.html


good luck!

[dave1811]

Thanks, I might try both of those suggestions after calming down a bit. Already have a cordless 18V Dewalt drill, a Dewalt Hammer drill and a regular corded drill. I hate to think that other 3 bolts are in the same condition. It looks like they have a nut welded on the back part of the bracket or so. I will see how I feel tomorrow and might tackle it then. Thanks for the encouragement! Next Camry I buy I think I will look at ones from "raised" in West Texas, Arizona, etc. Maybe they won't have a ton of rust on them. Mine apparently did some time for a few years in Ohio when new with a rental car company.



Dave

[Natedawg]

remove the bracket from the subframe. take it to a shop have them bust the nut off with an air chisel.. that nut is tack welded on the backside. once it breaks off . nut and bolt it and call it a day.

[ghettosled]

mine sheared clean off too. nice to know im not the only one that had this problem.

[zppeacock]

Originally Posted by Natedawg

remove the bracket from the subframe. take it to a shop have them bust the nut off with an air chisel.. that nut is tack welded on the backside. once it breaks off . nut and bolt it and call it a day.

Most of these gens will snap, air chisel trick works the best. Rust belt baby.

[dave1811]

I bought me an IR impact wrench around 6 months ago. Probably time to buy an air chisel (another excuse to buy another tool). And if I do that, will probably need a bigger compressor. Just collecting more tools to pass onto my son in about 5-10 years or so. Thanks for all the positive comments!

Bed time!



Dave