gatorstang said:
I was using a rachet and I was working them back and forth , I would loosen them a little then tighten them and then loosen them some more , this worked great except on the last two bolts . Also I used a ton of PB blaster on the bolts , my car has a 138,000miles on it I have had it since it had 70,000 miles on it and this was the first time I had to put a water pump on it . My dad who is a retired mechanic told me these bolts are notorious for breaking , and that I was lucky I was able to get the timing cover off without breaking it .
This is a common problem: the long bolts seem to corrode most and break off. I always use Never Seize on all the bolt shanks & threads when I re-assemble them. I have a 6" long bolt that I used a cutoff wheel to make several grooves through the threads, kind of like a tap. I use it to clean the threads out prior to re-assembly.
Here’s the parts list for the broken water pump bolts. Not cheap, but it will get you fixed and back on the road…
A word about the links, if they don’t work, do a search on the part number (P/N). MSC updates their catalog regularly, and the pages may change, but the part numbers don’t. You will need the Adobe Acrobat viewer which is also a free download –
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=1096 Use drill bushing 5/16” OD, 5/32” ID, ¾” long, P/N 07010457, price $8.57 This centers the drill bit in the housing bolt hole so you don’t get off center and damage the water pump, timing cover housing or engine block
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=27 drill bits - use 5/32” Cobalt/TiN coated bit. P/N 78530433, price $3.91
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=1928 Screw/bolt extractors. Use EZY-OUT Screw Extractor P/N 63760037 Price $2.67
One step specialty item: See Drill-Out® Broken Bolt Extractors drill bushing, reverse twist drill & extractor all in one unit. Best to use when the bolt breaks off with the remaining part below the start of the threads. .P/N 05027164. Price $18.33 each.
You MUST have a reversing drill motor (either air or electric) to use this bit. http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=19268
A long shank tap should be used to chase the leftover metal out of the original threads. Also recommended to clean the corrosion and dirt out of the threads before you reassemble everything. Cleaning the threads will help prevent the bolts from seizing next time (yes, there will be a next time).
Long shank 5/16” taps
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=279 5/16” pulley tap, 6” shank P/N 04801189 price $14.26
OR second choice, will not clean all the bottom threads unless you grind the end of the tap.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=2798 extension tap, 6” reduced diameter shank P/N 04701181 $16.17
See
http://www.windsorfox.com for Stainless Steel Water Pump Bolts with Custom stainless steel studs. Allow the use of factory accessory brackets without hunting for obsolete parts or using spacers.
Kit comes complete with nine polished stainless 12 point bolts, four stainless studs and nine stainless oversized washers.
Price: $65.95
