Broken bolt, now what? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

st1x10 · 05-26-2007, 11:30 AM

I went to the truck the other day and started it up and took it for a drive around my block. The power steering was making a huge noise so I pulled back in and found that the front two bolts for the bracket weren't there. One was completely gone and the other is broken off in the hole. What do I do now.

Should I drill it out and Heli-coil it? If so what size Heli-coil and what size bolts are they?

redneckgirl · 05-26-2007, 11:44 AM

Try drilling thru the center of it. If you have one, use a left handed bit, and sometimes they will come out with the bit. If not, drill it, then use a easy-out to remove it. If that does not work, then use a heli coil kit to repair it. The trick is to drill in the center of the bolt, and take your time.
Good luck!
Bob

P.S. I just realized I am on my wifes computer and logged in as her, Sorry, Centsless....woops my bad

eedgell · 05-26-2007, 12:15 PM

and good luck!

jhow66 · 05-26-2007, 12:38 PM

Before you do any drilling try this as the bolt piece is probably loose in the hole. WD 40 it and the take hammer and a small pick and see if it will move.

Infanti · 05-26-2007, 01:24 PM

I agree with jhow66,try this first. If you have to drill make sure whats left of your bolt is pretty flat before you center punch it otherwise your drill will still wander off.Start off with the smallest drill you can get away with,this help as a pilot hole then you can open it up with bigger drills as you need to.Then use some sort of easyout tool, there are a few, all are good. Key is to take your time.

piecesparts · 05-26-2007, 02:32 PM

IF all else fails AND before you decide to drill and work your tail off trying to make the bolt hole bigger than what you need, go to someone that has as mall welder and put a nut up against the block and weld down through the hole to the bolt. The heat will break the bolt loose and the weld will NOT stick to the metal in the block. This is another avenue to getting a broken bolt out and sometimes is a lot easier than trying to lean over the core support and drilling at an angle that you do not want in the first place.

cdowns · 05-26-2007, 02:57 PM

you could always man it out and go to manual steering no drilling welding or punching required

st1x10 · 05-28-2007, 03:08 PM

Aight what size bolts are they?

jhow66 · 05-28-2007, 03:54 PM

3/8"

centsless · 05-28-2007, 04:02 PM

3/8 coarse thread

krue · 05-28-2007, 07:49 PM

Try the left handed drill bit, it will spin it out enough to get some pliers on it (done this 3x already).

05-26-2007, 11:30 AM	#1
st1x10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 588	Broken bolt, now what? I went to the truck the other day and started it up and took it for a drive around my block. The power steering was making a huge noise so I pulled back in and found that the front two bolts for the bracket weren't there. One was completely gone and the other is broken off in the hole. What do I do now. Should I drill it out and Heli-coil it? If so what size Heli-coil and what size bolts are they? __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 "Under Construction" 2002 Chevy S10 V6

05-26-2007, 11:44 AM	#2
redneckgirl Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bel Air, Maryland Posts: 4,853	Re: Broken bolt, now what? Try drilling thru the center of it. If you have one, use a left handed bit, and sometimes they will come out with the bit. If not, drill it, then use a easy-out to remove it. If that does not work, then use a heli coil kit to repair it. The trick is to drill in the center of the bolt, and take your time. Good luck! Bob P.S. I just realized I am on my wifes computer and logged in as her, Sorry, Centsless....woops my bad __________________ The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there... and still on your feet. Stephen King Last edited by redneckgirl; 05-26-2007 at 11:47 AM.

05-26-2007, 12:15 PM	#3
eedgell It's the air up here Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 710	Re: Broken bolt, now what? and good luck! __________________ 1971 cheyenne k10 4 speed np 205 454 BB factory a/c Never drink down stream of the herd! Eric

05-26-2007, 12:38 PM	#4
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Re: Broken bolt, now what? Before you do any drilling try this as the bolt piece is probably loose in the hole. WD 40 it and the take hammer and a small pick and see if it will move. __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

05-26-2007, 01:24 PM	#5
Infanti www.infantimachine.com Join Date: May 2007 Location: Delta,BC Canada Posts: 311	Re: Broken bolt, now what? I agree with jhow66,try this first. If you have to drill make sure whats left of your bolt is pretty flat before you center punch it otherwise your drill will still wander off.Start off with the smallest drill you can get away with,this help as a pilot hole then you can open it up with bigger drills as you need to.Then use some sort of easyout tool, there are a few, all are good. Key is to take your time.

05-26-2007, 02:32 PM	#6
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: Broken bolt, now what? IF all else fails AND before you decide to drill and work your tail off trying to make the bolt hole bigger than what you need, go to someone that has as mall welder and put a nut up against the block and weld down through the hole to the bolt. The heat will break the bolt loose and the weld will NOT stick to the metal in the block. This is another avenue to getting a broken bolt out and sometimes is a lot easier than trying to lean over the core support and drilling at an angle that you do not want in the first place.

05-26-2007, 02:57 PM	#7
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Broken bolt, now what? you could always man it out and go to manual steering no drilling welding or punching required __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

05-28-2007, 03:08 PM	#8
st1x10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 588	Re: Broken bolt, now what? Aight what size bolts are they? __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 "Under Construction" 2002 Chevy S10 V6

05-28-2007, 03:54 PM	#9
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Re: Broken bolt, now what? 3/8" __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

05-28-2007, 04:02 PM	#10
centsless sufficiently talented fool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Forest Hill, MD Posts: 2,231	Re: Broken bolt, now what? 3/8 coarse thread __________________ "it's impossible to be surrounded by idiots when you are part of the circle" 2003 Suburban 2002 Pontiac Montana 1981 Corvette 1966 Impala Convertible Click here to support the board

05-28-2007, 07:49 PM	#11
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	Re: Broken bolt, now what? Try the left handed drill bit, it will spin it out enough to get some pliers on it (done this 3x already). __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"



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