LBJ Bolt Sheared Off...

[fish0281]

So, I was replacing my passenger side LBJ and one of the 4 mounting bolts broke off... anyone have any suggestions as to how I can remove it? Is it possible to drill it out?

 

[Dous]

Although they rarely work you could try and Easy Out tool first, available at Lowes or places like that

Drilling and tapping is another possibility

Or if you can get one cheap enough, replace the whole spindle. That is what I ended up doing, but I sheared off all 4, and didn't feel comfortable have 4 tapped holes for such an important suspension component. I paid 80 for a used spindle with 50K miles

 

[98OzarksRunner]

Mine did too a while back while changing them. I was all panicked and thought I would have to drill it out. I pulled the whole spindle (removed through bolt on the upper A-arm) and turned it over to get at it with the drill. I stuck a small screwdriver in the hole and the broken part turned right out. It hadn't bottomed out or anything, the head of the bolt just broke off.

Lesson: 1) Don't panic - it's probably not a big deal. 2) Don't pull the whole spindle out until you try turning the bolt with a screwdriver, nail, something. It might turn out easily like mine. 3) Worst case - pull the spindle, drill the bolt, try the easy out. If it doesn't work, drill the bolt out and retap it for a larger bolt.

Note: Mine broke while tightening it down. If it broke trying to get it out, disregard the above and panic :hatsoff: No, skip to step 3).

 

[fish0281]

Yeah, it was the old bolt that broke (just below the spindle). I tried turning it with a vice grips on the exposed piece above the spindle, but no luck. I was hoping someone had some magic dust to fix it, really don't want to take the entire spindle out!

 

[Drcoffee]

If you have a plumbers torch (propane) hit the exposed threads with some heat until it smokes. Then it should turn right out. I'm always amazed at how easy bolts come out once heated.

 

[fish0281]

Ahhh, good call. I was using my torch on the drivers side tie rod jam nut (that thing was on there really good), but totally forgot about it by the time I got to the passenger side... I think the heat and having to work on it on the side of the street (I live in the city w/o a garage) cooked my brain.

 

[Stick Figure]

Start soaking it w/ PB blaster or a similar good penetrating oil (WD-40 does not count).

 

[Nelsonmd]

I agree with using the torch. I would hesitate to use the easy-out. The one and only time I tried to use one, it snapped like a twig long before it should have, and then I had a hardened piece of tool steel embedded in there that prevented me from being able to drill it out. If the torch doesn't work, then pull the spindle and take it to a shop.

Do be a little careful with the torch. don't heat it up so much that you start to burn the grease in the bearing. That would take alot of heat since the spindle is so big, but don't just leave the torch on there forever.

 

[fish0281]

That is my experience with easy-outs as well, great idea, but they just don't work all that well particularly if it requires any torque to remove the stuck piece.

I'm going to disconnect the ball joint from the spindle (I buttoned it all back up yesterday; well, 3 of the 4 anyway) and try torching the bolt... being careful not to cook anything else. Hopefully that does the trick, I'll let you all know if it does!

 

[fish0281]

No luck with the torch. I couldn't even get a drill bit to start a hole, let alone get an easy-out in there... I have no motivation left to try and take out the entire spindle, so I give up.

I'll have to run with 3 in there until I can get it into a shop and have them take it out.

 

[fish0281]

For $200, I had the dealer take care of it. Sounds like they pulled the spindle, drilled it out, and dropped a new/used bolt in there. Not necessarily the coolest $200 I've spent, but better them doing it than me in this case!!