So i was working on replacing my rear brake pads in my 87 n/a. I took off the wheel then the first bolt on the caliper but the second was on there a little tougher so i put a little elbow greece into it and broke the head off the bolt. So how do i go about getting the rest of the bolt outta there? I'm guess i'll have to take it some where and get it done. Is it ok to drive with that bolts head ripped off?

 

About the only way to get it out if it is broke off flush with the surface, is to drill a hole in the middle of it and then get an easy out bit and try to back it out. Also while you are figureing out what you are going to do, I would suggest going to wal-mart and getting a can of PB blaster, and spraying the threads and the bolt, just make sure not to get any on any part of the brakes, cover it up will a bunch of raggs or something.

 

Since it's the caliper bolt, you're in for some fun. I believe the only way to get access to that one is to take the entire carrier assembly off, which require a fair bit of work. I'd take it in somewhere simply because it's easier.

 

Go to graingers, mcmaster-carr or your local machine tool supply shop and get some left haded drill bits

 

well thats no good, how much do you think it would cost me to get the bolt out? I only have hand tools because i'm at school right now, sockets, wrenches and what not. I'll prolly just take it somewhere.

 

To use an easy out you have to drill a hole in the bolt. And that won't be fun at all if it is hardened steel, like I am thinking it is. And an easy out doesn't always do it, I tryed to easy out a stud that I broke off in my 37 B tractor and I broke two different easy out's in the bolt and then I couldn't drill the easy out's out of the bolt because they kept dulling the drill bits. It finally came out after about 3 days of soaking in PB blaster, and all I did was make a very small hole off to one side of the easy out's that were broke off, and put a punch into the hole and it backed out. Well the key being make sure to soak it in PB blaster, it will make things a ton easier.

 

It's a caliper bolt, good luck getting a drill back there to drill that out. I usually start by drilling a tiny hole, then going one size larger, and then one size larger again until there's not much of the bolt left except the outer edge of the threads, then I either use an easy out or I try to collapse the remaining part. But like I said, you're not going to be able to get a drill on the backside of there unless you take it all apart.

 

how much do you thing a normal place would charge to get this thing removed?

 

I have the same problem except this is a seat bolt in my floorboard. The access is quite easy, but the bolt is HARD and jammed in there extremely tightly. I have yet to really tackle this. I'm thinking just drill it out and hope the threads survive.

 

yea pb blaster does work but i found that if you drill it out use a butane torch and then apply a little wax to the threads.. (machinist secret) then you can use an easy out. the wax acts as a lub so you don't break the easy out.....

 

So the broken bolt came out today. John @ J&H racing did it for me. It was a huge ****** pain, but its out, new ones and and the new brake pads are on. I never want to break a bolt again.

 

A sweet move is if you have a welder, or access to one, put a nut onto the surface with the broken bolt. One of similar size to the bolt so that the center of the nut doesnt expose the part that it is stuck in and you just weld the whole damn thing together. Sit the nut on there, and just start welding inside the nut so the nut and broken bolt are one piece. Then just put a wrench on there and turn it out.

If you dont have a welder, a welding shop will probably do it for like 5 bucks.

 

I have broken untold number of bolts on all my cars... must be me being a tuff guy I will drill a hole in it if vise grips dont work... Otherwise zip ties are always great j/k