Broken bolt removal?

[Achilles99]

When I replaced my exhaust, one of the bolts on one of the exhaust hangers broke. The head broke off, but the threads are still in the body of the car. Is there an easy way to extract this bolt? A special tool? I found a screw remover, but that doesn't seem like it would work. The bolt remover looks like it requires at least a rounded off head. That obviously wouldn't work for me.

Thanks!

 

[Frank Barefield]

Achillies99-
They make a bolt remover (probably available at Lowe's, Home Depot or Autozone).
First one drills a hole in the bolt shank and then one inserts a bit into the hole. A wrench is then applied to the bit and the bolt shank unscrews. Hope this helps.

 

[Achilles99]

Frank,

I feel honored that you used one of your only 24 posts in two years to answer my question Thanks! I'm heading to Home Depot right now...

 

[Wild Bill]

Spray some WD-40 on it before you leave to soak in.
B

 

[AJT]

I think it is called a easy-out. After you drill hole you insert a bit that turns the remaining bolt out as it goes in. Probably the better place to look would be a auto parts store or Sears.

Andy

 

[AJT]

Ditto on the WD40, liquid wrench, or penetrating spray.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

WD40 *****. Use a real penetrating fluid like from Lawson Products.

Try the EZ-out but if it doesn't work (and there's a good chance it wont) then you will need to drill a hole just smaller than the thread depth size and chisel the remainder of the bolt out. Use a taper tap for clean up.

 

[Steve-Indy]

"Chuck 98 RT/10" is right on ...WD-40 has many uses, but there are better (REAL) penetrating oils out there...such as Kroil, Schaeffer"s Penetro 90, etc.

Good luck.

 

[obaa996]

There's a penetrating oil call "PB Blaster"; it's packaged in the cheesiest looking aerosol can, but it works great. If you can get to both sides, spray both ends down with the penetrating oil. Let the oil soak for a long time (several hours), and rap the bolt occasionally to help the oil wick in.
Buy some left handed drill bits to drill out the bolt; they drill in the opposite direction of normal bits. With any luck, the drilling process will sometimes back that broken bolt right out....

Good luck!

 

[Frank Barefield]

Achilles99-
Hummmmm....Quality, not Quantity.......... Now that I'm over the fear of posting, my goal is to work my way up to the "ab" (Adam) level. Who knows, I might even originate a thread someday! Oh by the way, thanks for finally coming up with an issue to which I could respond.
Frank

 

[46hemi]

The easy out may work but be real careful when you are trying to loosen the bolt (as if drilling the hole right in the center of a snapped bolt wont be hard enough). The easy outs are really brittle and while they are real strong if you dont stay perfectly straight when trying to turn it it will easily snap off inside the bolt. Then you have a bigger problem.

 

[Matt M PA]

Ditto the easy-out breaking. Had that happen on a 440 head.

Ditto also on PB Blaster...stuff is great.

Lowe's sells a bit called a "Grab-Bit" that worked GREAT when I was replacing the screws of my trailer.

You also may need to get someone with a blue wrench (torch) to heat that up first.