Broken Bolt

Nightstang00 · May 21, 2017

I was installing a saleen wing on my 93 gt. Got them all in, was just tightening them up and the back pass side bolt broke. The head came off. I used brand new 1/4 bolts from Home Depot. I tried to drill it and get a flat head to turn it out but couldn't do it. Got an extractor, that didn't work either. the way it is now , it's basically a broken off bolt with a hole through it a little smaller then 1/4. Any ideas? I was thinking about just using a strong glue on that part and just having the rest of the bolts hold it down if I can't figure anything else out.

RaggedGT · May 22, 2017

Can you drill the hole deeper and then tap it for a smaller bolt?

Nightstang00 · May 22, 2017

RaggedGT said:
Can you drill the hole deeper and then tap it for a smaller bolt?

There is maybe a half inch of thread , then it goes hollow and on the other side it is the inside of the top of the wing. I thought about trying to just tap it with what's left inside, I was afraid to damage the fiberglass that holds the metal female end with threads.

Mustang5L5 · May 22, 2017

So did you drill one hole through the bolt already? If so, find a slightly larger drill bit, and drill another hole through it. ANd keep doing this until you get to almost where the threads are. At this point, the bolt should start to want to disintegrate, or you can try an extractor there.

When you get it out, chase it with a tap and see if a bolt has enough thread to grab, otherwise, drill/tap for a slightly larger size at that point

Nightstang00 · May 22, 2017

Mustang5L5 said:
So did you drill one hole through the bolt already? If so, find a slightly larger drill bit, and drill another hole through it. ANd keep doing this until you get to almost where the threads are. At this point, the bolt should start to want to disintegrate, or you can try an extractor there.

When you get it out, chase it with a tap and see if a bolt has enough thread to grab, otherwise, drill/tap for a slightly larger size at that point

Yes it currently has a hole through it, I will try that! Thanks for your advice

jrichker · May 22, 2017

How thick is the metal that you are working with? A picture would help.

Use a 13/64" or a #7 drill bit to clean out the broken bolt remnants, then use a 1/4"-20 tap to re-tap the threads.

Nightstang00 · May 22, 2017

Mustang5L5 said:
So did you drill one hole through the bolt already? If so, find a slightly larger drill bit, and drill another hole through it. ANd keep doing this until you get to almost where the threads are. At this point, the bolt should start to want to disintegrate, or you can try an extractor there.

When you get it out, chase it with a tap and see if a bolt has enough thread to grab, otherwise, drill/tap for a slightly larger size at that point

Yes it currently has a hole through it, I will try that! Thanks for your advice

jrichker said:
How thick is the metal that you are working with? A picture would help.

Use a 13/64" or a #7 drill bit to clean out the broken bolt remnants, then use a 1/4"-20 tap to re-tap the threads.

jrichker · May 23, 2017

From the looks of the hole, it is thin metal. What you need is a rivnut...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfQIYLSKGwI

Google 1/4" rivnut for more information.

Broken Bolt

Nightstang00

Active Member

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

Nightstang00

Active Member

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Nightstang00

Active Member

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL

Nightstang00

Active Member

Attachments

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL

Similar threads

Broken Bolt

Active Member

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

Active Member

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Active Member

StangNet's favorite TOOL

Active Member

Attachments

StangNet's favorite TOOL

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency