During a lower ball joint replacement... Houston....

[ooja3k]

We have a problem...


Thoughts on resolving it?

I may have to go borrow a more powerful drill with some nice bits from the shop at work to drill that sucker out...

How can I retain the existing threads so I can use the new bolts??

Ideas?

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Pikeman]

buy yourself a nice screw extractor set. you will be able to save it just fine.

 

[ooja3k]

I was thinking it may be easier to push it out (screw it out) with a regular forward drill bit as opposed to a reverse threaded screw extractor.

The threads are clean if I were to tighten it all the way through the spindle.

What do you think?

 

[rjaudi]

Welcome to my world last weekend. Broke screw extractors trying to free mine. I eventually drilled a hole through it and tapped the hole with a m10x1.25 tap. I also used a dremel and ground the part of the bolt that sticks out the top.

 

[ooja3k]

does the 10x1.25 tap match the existing bolt size and thread density?

Thanks.

 

[rjaudi]

does the 10x1.25 tap match the existing bolt size and thread density?

Thanks.

Yes, it screwed right in.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Had that happen to me a few months back and I had on heck of a time getting it out. I ended up having to drill it out, then weld a small flat washer onto it, then pinch the washer flat to use as leverage to grip with a channel lock... it came right out. :banana:

You might get lucky with a screw extractor. You might not get lucky and learn to embrace the suck.


Good luck!

 

[coinball]

If you have access to a MIG or ARC welder, weld a nut onto the part sticking out of the knuckle still and it'll come right out with a wrench...works every time.

 

[Mr. Leary]

If you have access to a MIG or ARC welder, weld a nut onto the part sticking out of the knuckle still and it'll come right out with a wrench...works every time.

If it is stuck that well, that may not be enough. I had to drill out the middle to create sufficient surface area for the weld to fully bond with the shank of the bolt.

 

[ooja3k]

Well even bigger problem now...

Drilled the center out, tried a bolt extractor, snapped it right off...

Now the screw extractor is super hard and I cant drill through it...


Today I am going to swing by the depot and look for a couple narrow pointy bits for either my dremel or die grinder and grind the screw extractor out...


This is quite a project! A

 

[coinball]

I always use extractors as an absolute last ditch effort, usually becuase they break off and you're SNAFU'd from that point on...

At this point you've got two real choices, 1) torch the knuckle until that tab is a nice red and get on it with some vice grips and twist out the remainder of that bolt, or 2) MIG/ARC a nut back onto the remainder of that bolt, and make sure you pool some extra weld on it to get it good and hot, then go at it with a wrench.

 

[Mr. Leary]

I always use extractors as an absolute last ditch effort, usually becuase they break off and you're SNAFU'd from that point on...

At this point you've got two real choices, 1) torch the knuckle until that tab is a nice red and get on it with some vice grips and twist out the remainder of that bolt, or 2) MIG/ARC a nut back onto the remainder of that bolt, and make sure you pool some extra weld on it to get it good and hot, then go at it with a wrench.

Good advice. You are running out of options.

 

[ooja3k]

Well unbeknown to all of you, I had ground the bottom flush with the spindle to allow myself to get a good centered start on the drilling...

I also ground the top, for what now appears to be no reason at all.

This morning i was starting with a broken bolt, with a drill bit and a screw extractor broken off in it, and it ground flush on both sides....


I went to home depot and bought whatever Dremel bits i thought might help. A couple brown and green pointed grinding stones, and a carbide tip cutting tool.

Here is the result:

I started grinding the bottom of the broken off drill bit and it fell right out... Then I ground away at the screw extractor (both times with the pointed grinding stones) I noticed it starting to get loose to I punched it down through the bolt from the top.

Finally I took the carbide dremel cutter and worked my way around the inside of the bolt until i could faintly see the threads of the spindle.

A little love with the remnants and they fell right out.

Now to put the front end back together...

Thanks for everyones help!!