Hi guys,

 

Just looking for some advice really. I was changing the ARB bushes and the bolt holding one of the brackets snapped on me. It's very tight to get a drill in there to remove the bolt and I'm loathed to drop the subframe. 

 

Is there any other way to remove this bolt or if I have to drop the subframe, is there anyway I can leave the steering rack in place?

 

Thanks, Dan. 

Ouch!!.

All I can suggest is, for a couple of days fill that bolt recess up with Plus - Gas. its one of the best penetrating fluids around. People make the mistake of using WD40 this only a lubricating fluid and rust preventer.

Then, gettiing hold of a right angled attachment for your drill, drill most of the centre out. Using a extractor tap try to unscrew it, if it doesnt budge try a bit of local heat, after cleaning  off the Plus -Gas (its very inflammable). If that isnt possible can you drill from underneath into the bolt?.

 

If you cant get the remaining bit of bolt out, then drill it out until you remove most of it, re-tap hole to M10 The hole in the clamp is 10mm, then just use a M10 bolt x 18 long.

The existing part numbers are:-  M8 x 18 hex' bolt  N - 101 - 016 - 03    (2 off)

                                                          Clamp ...................1J0 - 411 - 336D      (2 off)

 

NB: Put a bit of copper grease on the bolt thread this will avoid it happening again.

 

Good Luck

Edited 14 August, 20205 yr by Silver Bullet

Thanks for your suggestion, it really helped out.

So, I managed to get the old bolt out and saved the existing thread at the same time. Got hold of the right angled drill bit adaptor you mentioned and this provided the access I needed. Got in there with a 4mm drill bit as a pilot hole and tried my screw/bolt extractor. Unfortunately, this did not work, every time I've tried to use screw/bolt extractors, they've always failed. This left me with the option of drilling the bolt out entirely and re-tapping the hole as you mentioned. Got the 7mm drill bit out and went until the right angled drill bit was too hot to touch and then the old bolt just fell apart, gave it a touch up with an 8mm tap to clean the threads and a new bolt fit in there no problem.

 

Got the ARB attached with some new bushes and drop links and now the car feels much better to drive.

 

Photo below of the aftermath of drilling, excuse the weld mark there, tried welding a bolt onto the old one to try and undo it that way, lack of space caused me to miss and give up on that silly idea!

 

 

Brilliant job👍,

 

Glad I was able to help, I did replace the arb bushes a few years ago, and can still remember how tight the space you had to work in was.

I wasnt sure if you could use a r/angled attachment in the space available, what you did though was really the best approach, ie drilling it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 15 August, 20205 yr by Silver Bullet