Snapped a bolt in a thread. Help!

**Paul1985** · 22-02-2007 05:51 PM

Hey,
Ive had the worst day and this just topped it off!

I was installing my brake upgrade and one of the two bolts from the rear upper arm snapped into the chassis of the car. The thread and bolt on the other one are shit too, so that will need to be re-tapped with a new bolt aswell.

I cant even seem to remove the head of the bolt but i can feel that its snapped.

I dont have a tap set or even drill bits. Even if i did i dont have enough confidence in myself for tapping and drilling an important hole like this. I may even need a helicoil...

So does anyone know what i can do about this issue? Its stressing me out.

Im thinking of paying a proffesional to just come around and drill/tap/helicoil the two holes.. that way it will be done correctly. If im doing this who should i contact?? I know a mechanic would do it but im thinking that there would be better tradesman to get than a mechanic for this.

Anyone have any advice? surely theres been a few of you who've snapped bolts.

**90xsi** · 22-02-2007 06:19 PM

you will only need a helicoil if you have stripped the thread bad enough.

if you can just get a smaller drill bit (couple of sizes smaller) and drill
through the centre of the snapped bolt, it should crumble and you can get it
out. Even if you get the sides a little, just re tap it so the new bolt will go in \
smooth.

if you have the confidence to do the brake upgrade you should be
capable of this. Even go to you local auto store and ask for advice.
hopefully they might have a better answer.

good luck

**[[d a n n y]]** · 22-02-2007 06:20 PM

paul u idiot. lol
show us some pics.

**JasonGilholme** · 22-02-2007 06:30 PM

picsorban.

Bad luck man. I know how you feel, its even more painful after a long day that hasn't been goin well... :/

goodluck champ.

**Zilli** · 22-02-2007 06:31 PM

like mentioned above

get a smaller-than-bolt drill bit and drill through it, then smack it up a bit with a hammer and pick until it crumbles up

wose comes to worst there are people who come to you to retap

**Drew** · 22-02-2007 06:46 PM

go to a hardware shop and get an easyout...

While you're there pick me up a sky hook and 4L of Tartan paint will ya...

But really an easyout should do it without much drilling if any, and a very very good change of the thread being intact

Here's a link if you have absolutely no idea what the **** I'm talking about

http://www.crustyquinns.com/tech/easyout.html

**ECU-MAN** · 22-02-2007 10:25 PM

if your brave, you can drill a hole dead centre of the broken bolt, then use an easy out as mentioned above.

or if your even braver, you can drill a hole dead center and then use a drill bit the size of the bolt and drill it all out, then clean up the thread or helicoil it if ness.

I sucks doesnt it

**aaronng** · 22-02-2007 10:31 PM

Supercheap sells a set of easyouts for $20 for 4 sizes. If you buy it from bunnings, it's $10 each. (but I think the bunnings one is of better quality).

Also, if you have a cordless drill/screwdriver, you can use the easyout with it set to reverse with less chance of snapping the easyout.

**Paul1985** · 24-02-2007 02:43 PM

i had a look at it today.
The bolt isnt snapped. The welded nut on the other side has broken off..
You may think that that makes things easy. Hell no. You cant get to the welded nut because its inside the chassis. I was thinking drill a hole through the frame soi can get a tool in there to undo it and then id be able to put another nut on it. So far ive drilled about a 10mm hole but im gonna have to drill a huge hole in order to be able to get the nut out as it looks to be about 22mm in size. I cant seem to drill a hole where i need it aswell so i dont know how im going to be able to get the nut off and out let alone trying to install another one. I dont know what to do! One problem is just leading to another.

I might pay someone to do it before i mess the job up.