DupermanDave

One of the bolts on my manual hubs are broken off at the tip. I cannot use a wrench to get it off. The only thing I can think of doing to get it out is to drill a hole and try and get it out that way.

Easiest route would be to weld something onto it to twist it out, but that's not an option because I don't have a welder or know how to weld.

Any other suggestions? Can I maybe remove all other bolts, leave this one and then just twist the top off counterclockwise to leave the bolt there, and then get it out with some pliers? I know there's stripped bolt head tips for wrenched, is there something like that for when the head is completely gone?

RustBucket

iTrader: (1)

Do you mean one of the little bolts that holds the face of the hub on? Or one of the studs that joins the manual hub to the knuckle assembly?

If you can drill a small hole in the broken bolt/stud there are tools with left-handed threads (EZ-out I think?) that bite into the hole while applying the torque to loosen the broken bolt.

yoterr

yeah if the head is broken off (unless its got locktite on it) it no longer has tourq on the threads making it easy to pull out...

904_runner

Ive broken them off before..

Pliers get them out pretty easily..

blue_CA_yota

EZ-out are cheap and fairly easy to use.. I bought a set at Princess Auto for $4 the other day.. they're cheap cause they break often..
step 1 - use a centre punch on the broken bolt
step 2 - use the appropriate drill bit (the of bit to use will be listed on the ez-out package) and drill 1/4 to 1/2 inch into the busted bolt.. make sure you hit the centre so you don't start drilling through the threads
step 3 - using your ez-out, try to turn the bolt out. if it doesn't work right away, try enlarging the mouth of your drilled hole

I just replaced 2 broken ones on my free/spin clutch cover on monday.. total cost was $4 for the Ez-out, and $0.50 for two new bolts (think they're M6 or M8 10 or 15mm).. you may have to pull the cover off, mine was off anyways because I was pulling a CV

Left handed drills are even easier to use, however they're expensive (well at least more than an EZ-out).. Ez-outs are cheap because they break often.. especially when using them on seized or badly cross threaded botls.. My bolts broke because I over torqued them, I was lazy and put them in with an electric impact drill.. stupid I know..

SpecialScottie

I broke a bolt on my manual hub also. ez-out worked perfect

DupermanDave

I'll look into EZ out. thanks.

I do mean the outer bolts that hold the face on.

-edit-
I've been looking online for EZ out. I havent seen it at autozone or napa here, so I havent found anything like this locally. I also don't see it anywhere online like amazon.com.

I don't want to spend $25 for a bolt extractor kit that I'll only use once.

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

freight harbor, hate what they stand for but love the prices.

904_runner

Try to get it out with some needle nose pliers first.

iamsuperbleeder

oh trust me, you'll use it more than once, if you work on your own truck, lol

I've gone threw 3 full set of easy-outs over the past couple of years that's just the nature of the beast when owning an older vehicle; bolts are going to seize up and break...


personally, I'd just get an easy-out kit with some small ones in it

soak the broken off bolt with some PB blaster, drill a pilot hole threw the center, put the correctly sized easy-out into the pilot hole, give it a couple taps with a hammer to seat it, and just turn it out problem solved

then just go down to the parts store and match up some new bolts; it might not hurt to get ALL new replacements, since they're obviously starting to get weak

DupermanDave

That's probably what I was going to do. All new bolts. Have to work on this after winter, but I'm prepping by ordering new wheel bearings and tools beforehand.