Member Since: 22 Sep 2014
Location: Hereford
Posts: 2284
Snapped bolt......
Any ideas how to remove it??
I was trying to get everything loose in preparation for changing my AC condenser tomorrow but the last bolt wouldn't budge and then snapped
13th Jun 2016 5:04 pm
brightsparking
Member Since: 20 Jun 2013
Location: Perthshire
Posts: 175
If access is as easy as it looks then drilling it out with ever increasing drill sizes should do the job.then re-tap the threads
13th Jun 2016 5:10 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
I'm not sure which bolt that is or how much, if anything, is protruding.
Spraying it with penetrating spray and leaving it is never wasted. Same goes for heat but often there are plastic, rubber or flammable parts in the way. Then check for access from the other side as many bolts on the D3 are not in blind holes. If access from the other side can be achieved then this is the side to work from as it gives you the option of pulling clean threads through the hole rather than rusty ones. Depending on access either mole grips or a fluted socket (Irwins) will do the job.
If there is insufficient bolt to grip on the reverse then drilling out is the best option. Before drilling with increasing bit sizes give the bolt a good whack with a hammer and punch as this is often enough to free the corrosive bond.
Having LH as well as RH bits gives you a choice of side and direction to spin the fastener once sufficient material has been removed from the centre of the bolt. Even when freeing a bolt from a blind hole 95% of the time I find the broken fastener will spin out with a LH drill bit well before I get to a bit size that threatens the existing threads. For the remaining 5% the tapping bits come out to play.
Work smart and look at all options before attacking it. I have seen many a chap spend ages trying to remove a sheared bolt from the 'normal' side when a quick twist from the other side would have done the job.
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13th Jun 2016 8:20 pm
WillyEckerslike
Member Since: 22 Aug 2013
Location: Out in the world
Posts: 967
That looks like it's the front end carrier (that the headlights and grille slot into). It's made of some weird alloy, and is quite brittle.
From memory, it lifts out when all the bolts are out. So you may get away with removing all the other fasteners and then lifting that panel out, so that you can attack the snapped bolt with grips when it's out in the open.
13th Jun 2016 9:49 pm
Iceman08
Member Since: 22 Sep 2014
Location: Hereford
Posts: 2284
Thanks all
I tried drilling it out but was getting nowhere, it must be made of kevlar!! I took Robbie's advice and took 5 out to reevaluate the situation!
I removed the wheel arch and the arch liner so I could then spray it with penetrating oil front and back, then a lot of patiently turning back and forth with the mole grips loosened it enough to the point I could remove it.
Thats was after I snapped two screw extractor bits and about 5 drill bits!
13th Jun 2016 10:57 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Glad the advice helped. I'm not a fan of screw-in extractors / ez outs. The last thing I need is broken hardened metal stuck in the fastener.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
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