Rear Sway Bar Bushing Help

[A-dog]

I am in the process of replacing all the sway bar bushings. The front went smoothly. On the rear, this happened. I sprayed all the parts with penetrating oil 2 days prior to attempting this, and I still broke the bolt head off. I was not using a lot of force, just a standard ratchet. The worst part is the bushings in the rear looked completely fine, but I just figured since I had the parts on hand, I should just go ahead and replace them seeing as they have 200,000 miles on them. Any thoughts on what to do?

 

[nissanh]

Drill a hole and use the bolt extractor. Buy snapon on or a good brand.

 

[mtbtim]

There's a tool called an "Easy out" that is used to extract broken off bolts. I've never used one myself but I hear they work very well for the situation you are in. You'll probably be better off buying a kit of Easy Outs rather than trying to guess which one you'll need to get the job done. If an easy out doesn't work, I know you can carefully drill out the old bolt and the re-tap the threads. If you're drilling it out, you'd half to use a drill bit slightly smaller than the hole diameter and be careful to start drilling in the center of the bolt and keep the drill bit path as straight as possible. I'd use a punch to mark the center and give yourself a good starting purchase point.

I'm sure you can probably find many YouTube videos of people demonstrating how to extract a broken off bolt. If you still have difficulty, I'm sure a local shop you trust could do it easily for you because they've probably had to do it many times and have the expertise. Luckily, it's not in a tight location that's hard to get to so I'm guessing you'll be successful one way or another getting that broken bolt out.

Good luck!

 

[reynaldo65]

I am in the process of replacing all the sway bar bushings. The front went smoothly. On the rear, this happened. I sprayed all the parts with penetrating oil 2 days prior to attempting this, and I still broke the bolt head off. I was not using a lot of force, just a standard ratchet. The worst part is the bushings in the rear looked completely fine, but I just figured since I had the parts on hand, I should just go ahead and replace them seeing as they have 200,000 miles on them. Any thoughts on what to do?

Bro we had the same situation. I broke the rear bracket upper bolt while trying to replace with new sway bar bushing. I used the easy out but heck I broke it too. I drove to welding shop and they fixed it. I bought a new nut since they cut the old one and welded a new one. It costs me $30. BTW I replaced my sway bar bushing with energy suspension bushing and bracket for rear and front. My rear sway bar bushing has only 65,000 miles but decided to upgrade them. Also I upgraded my rear stabilizer bushing end links with Moog but used energy suspension bushings.

 

[fourfive]

This is what i used to extract a broken ABS sensor bolt from my front UCA. It was suprisingly easy and the first time i had ever attempted to extract a briken screw.

Damaged Screw Remover and Extractor Set by Product Stop - Set of 4 Stripped Screw Removers - - Amazon.com

 

[ShannanC]

If you finish removing the bracket and sway bar so that it's out of your way you can weld a bolt to the broken bolt. The heat from the welding process will expand the bolt and break all of the crud loose. Once the bolt cools you should be able to remove the bolt with a wrench or ratchet. Easy peasy. :eyebrows:

 

[fourfive]

If you finish removing the bracket and sway bar so that it's out of your way you can weld a bolt to the broken bolt. The heat from the welding process will expand the bolt and break all of the crud loose. Once the bolt cools you should be able to remove the bolt with a wrench or ratchet. Easy peasy. :eyebrows:

One of many reasons why I need to learn how to weld. I'll start practicing one day.

 

[derpiful]

If you finish removing the bracket and sway bar so that it's out of your way you can weld a bolt to the broken bolt. The heat from the welding process will expand the bolt and break all of the crud loose. Once the bolt cools you should be able to remove the bolt with a wrench or ratchet. Easy peasy. :eyebrows:

I definitely need to try this soon! The last time I was taking off my sway bar I had all four bolts break on me. I've been running no sway bars for a while, but I think it'd be nice to at least have the option to.

 

[ShannanC]

Also if you were planning on replacing the bolts you could heat them up cherry red with a small torch,let them cool, and break them loose. It's the same principle.

If you have a super stuck nut that penetrating oil won't budge you can heat the nut up cherry red and break it loose while it's still hot.

Just remember:
Bolts=heat and cool
Nuts=heat and break loose

 

[A-dog]

Problem fixed! Thanks everyone for your help. I went to my buddies who has a tig welder. He tig welded a new head onto the 2 bolts that snapped, and then simply grabbed it with vice grips and spun them out. I replaced all 4 of the bolts after I installed the new bushings. I did not want to try a speed out for this gives the mess I would be in if the speed out got lodged in there.

 

[flipty]

This just happened to me, and I don't have the ability to weld so I'm gonna go to my local trusted shop and actually pay them to remove them. Anyone know the thread pitch and length of new bolts?

 

[padron1]

M8x1.25

Old ass post but it'll help someone out eventually lol

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

 

[wisdom_seeker]

M8x1.25

Old ass post but it'll help someone out eventually lol

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

It did help me out. Thank you.

 

[TheDurk]

In the thread in my sig I show a successful extraction of the same size bolt from elsewhere on the frame. Start at Post #95.