I was in the process of removing my shifter and I noticed that I was missing 1 of 3 screws from the plate clover for the shifter. It seems that the previous owner over tightened it and broke the head off, leaving the rest of the screw in the hole.



I don't know how to remove this, I've searched and read of something called "EZ OUT". But I don't know if it will work. Can anyone help me out?

 

It's very tricky to remove a steel screw from an aluminum casting.
To use a screw extractor, you have to drill down through the center of the broken screw.
When attempting this, the drill often skids off the steel into the softer aluminum.

First try using a small screwdriver as a chisel against any burr on the top of the broken screw, and with a hammer, gently tap it around to unscrew it.

Another option is to use a Dremmel with a cut-off wheel to cut a slot in the top of the screw. Then turn it with a sharpened screw driver.

The best option may be to ignore it & just use 2 screws.

 

^ Try number 1 and 2 first before you give up.

 

I use the dremel idea all the time, it works great. Be sure to lube it up with PB Blaster, but try not to overspray, your car will smell like it for a long time if you get it all over.

 

I will definitely try all the things you suggested. Would 2 screws be suffcient for a long term use? and is there any excessive wear?

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

 

you could always drill it all the way out and tap it one size larger if there is room

 

If all those methods do not work you can try this is you have access to the necessary tools.

Get a washer that has an outside diameter bigger than the snapper bolt but with an inner diameter slightly smaller than that of the bolt. Find an appropriate nut and put it on top of the washer and then tack weld the nut and washer together. Then put the nut/washer over the snapped bolt weld the inside of the nut and then proceed to take the bolt out with a socket.

 

A center punch would do wonders in this situation prior to applying the drill bit.

 

center punch it... then use a reversable drill and bit. the bit needs to be a little smaller in diameter as not to drill out the threads... once the bit catches (usually about half way down)the bolt will thread out. Use this technique all the time on nissan v-6 engines with broken exhuast manifold bolts works 80+% of the time. i also soak the crap out of it with penatrating oil

 

you deff need to get a hole in the middle of that screw/ bolt once you get the hole in bolt there is a thing called an easyout by craftsman and it works very well but you do have to apply quite a bit of pressure.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...&bidsite=CRAFT

 

2 screws is enough for the shifter cover. its not gonna hurt anything

 

I used the first method SureShot sugested and it worked like a charm, I guess I was lucky because the screw wasn't in too tight. Thanks too all who contributed. All the info posted are pro.