Broken Bolt

[Nightstang00]

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]

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

 

[Nightstang00]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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.