Problem? - Engine Bay Bolt Removal

jcgafford · Jul 24, 2017

This is one of the two bolts that hold the power steering pump onto the rest of the engine. Never noticed it was broken off this whole time. It seems that with the other bolt in this 1 inch of leftover holds the power steering pump in place with no apparent problems. I have tried to remove it to replace it and it is pretty much there forever. Any thoughts on this? Foreseeable problems?

imp · Jul 25, 2017

jcgafford said:
This is one of the two bolts that hold the power steering pump onto the rest of the engine. Never noticed it was broken off this whole time. It seems that with the other bolt in this 1 inch of leftover holds the power steering pump in place with no apparent problems. I have tried to remove it to replace it and it is pretty much there forever. Any thoughts on this? Foreseeable problems?

@jcgafford
Eng., year, and model?
IOW, do bolts also control belt tightness via slotted adjustment? If so, problem likely exists. If serpentine belt system, torque remaining bolt to level recommended. Or, better, cut broken bolt off flush, prick punch center of bolt as closely as possible, assuming adequate room is available to do this, drill tiny (3/32" hole in center of broken bolt, at least 1" deep, through, if possible, then larger drill, slightly smaller than the tap drill size for that bolt.Then try a tap extractor, after spraying plenty of penetrating oil. If the extractor will not budge the broken bolt stub, remove the extractor, drill remaining bolt portion out using tap drill size for that screw size. Then, carefully re-thread using a plug tap of the correct size. Often, doing this, will re-establish the original threads internal to the bracket, while forcing out remains of the broken bolt. imp

jcgafford · Jul 25, 2017

Ah. 1992 gt. I considered pulling the bracket and tapping it out but am concerned about the other three bolts.

General karthief · Jul 25, 2017

Show a pick of the bracket, I may have one

jcgafford · Jul 25, 2017

At work right now. Home tonight though.

General karthief · Jul 28, 2017

Still at work?

jcgafford · Jul 28, 2017

Ha! No, impromptu trip to the lake. Back sunday.

General karthief · Jul 28, 2017

AND YOU DIDN'T INVITE ME?

imp · Jul 28, 2017

karthief said:
AND YOU DIDN'T INVITE ME?

Hang onto that bracket then; I may need it! imp

General karthief · Jul 29, 2017

You should be able to take that bracket off and get to the back of the bolt and drill a hole in it and easy out it, steel bolt and aluminum brackets don't play well together, lots of pb blaster or equivalent, worse case heat it a smidge, antisize is your friend with steel bolts and aluminum brackets.

jrichker · Jul 29, 2017

Aerosol duster & heat to remove broken bolts.

Plan B:
Get a can of aerosol keyboard duster: notice that when you turn the can upside down and spray, it puts out a stream of very cold gas. We are going to use that to our advantage.

Remove the bracket and apply heat to the area around the offending bolt using a propane torch or even better, put it in the oven at 400 degrees. If you use the oven method, make sure that your wife isn’t around. To measure the temperature of the part, you can rub a stick of high temperature melt hot glue on the part near the bolt. If the glues melts, the part is hot enough to work with. The high temperature hot glue melt somewhere in the range of 375°-425°, which is right in the range that the part needs to be for best results.

Get a pair of Visegrip pliers handy, you are going to need then. Put the plastic straw on the aerosol duster, you want to spray a narrow, concentrated stream of the cold gas. Once the bracket around the bolt is good and hot, turn the can of aerosol keyboard duster upside down and spray the bolt on both sides for about 10 seconds each side. The aluminum expands multiple times more than steel does and when you spray the bolt, it shrinks a bit. This is because of the mass of the aluminum is much greater than the bolt. That will often give you just enough slack to twist the bolt out.

Note that ordinary hot melt glue melts at about 250°, which is a little too cool for what needs to be done.

General karthief · Jul 29, 2017

My girl doesn't allow car parts in the house. I would have to move the oven outside.

Mustang5L5 · Jul 29, 2017

I'd replace that part.

I had an a/c bracket with a similar broken bolt and no amount of heat, or penetration fluid or torque would break it free.

I just hoped on the ole eBay, bought one, and installed that one instead. Sometimes the aggravation isn't worth it

jcgafford · Jul 30, 2017

Yeah. Its a pain with the location and number of bolts going into it. No chance for a good picture yet but I assume jrichker is correct again. Probably need a replacement. Update later

jcgafford · Jul 30, 2017

Fun pics

General karthief · Jul 30, 2017

I'll check my 'stash' tomorrow.

jcgafford · Jul 31, 2017

karthief said:
I'll check my 'stash' tomorrow.

If not lmr has them. Took a while to find it without a complete bracket replacement set but it is available.

Mustang5L5 · Jul 31, 2017

Funny, that's the same bracket and SAME bolt that snapped in mine. I tried everything to get it out, but couldn't. Ended up buying one off ebay.

That was before LRS had them

https://lmr.com/item/LRS-9998927/50...=zEMHVDSz_pcrid_11631804809_pkw__pmt_be_pdv_c

jcgafford · Jul 31, 2017

Now I get to try to source that single bolt. Not to easy when the mid section of it is missing.

Mustang5L5 · Jul 31, 2017

I had to do the same. I went to the local hardware store, and bought a few grade 8 bolts and washers and just test fit until I found one that worked and returned the rest.

Problem? - Engine Bay Bolt Removal

jcgafford

Attachments

imp

Mustang Master

jcgafford

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

jcgafford

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

jcgafford

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

imp

Mustang Master

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

jcgafford

jcgafford

Attachments

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

jcgafford

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

jcgafford

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Similar threads

Problem? - Engine Bay Bolt Removal

Attachments

Mustang Master

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Mustang Master

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

StangNet's favorite TOOL

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Attachments

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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