Drilling out a suspension bolt?
 

I've been trying to get this damn pinch bolt out and release my ball joint, but even cutting it has netted no results, so I want to drill the whole damn bolt out, but I'm having a few problems because it is taking forever to just cut even half-way thorugh the bolt.

I'm using a hardened bit and a decent drill, so what else can I do to speed the process up? I'd like to get this done in the next three hours. I plan on replacing the pinch bolt with a bolt/lock washer/nut (grade 8 of course) combo instead of trying to re-thread something into the hub carrier.

Please give me any suggestions you may have, I'm starting to dislike my car at the moment. :(

Here's some pics for reference with the part I want to drill out circled:

http://img127.exs.cx/img127/1593/img38265zm.th.jpghttp://img127.exs.cx/img127/2861/img38287hj.th.jpg

Push harder!! I drill bolts out all the time and i dont know what to tell you... use a smaller bit? Then change to a larger one

What kind of bits work best? I just using a cutting wheel to snip the bolt head off so I have a nice flush surface and am about to try my 1/4" steel drill bit and see what happens.

I just use the normal steel drill bits, brass coated... As long as its brand new It should work just fine. It should dull too much doin the bolts on the suspension, for they are fairly small... Why dont you just drill a small hole (Make sure its dead center) And e-z out the bolt? That way you could save your threads but you will need a torch to heat up the surrounding metal so it can expand and you can twist the bolt out with the e-z out.

Or, drill the bolt totally out.. Then retap the hole and heli-coil it..

Ok, got it out. I used a plain steel bit and it worked better then those fancy sidewinder bits I had.

It's only the pinch bolt too, so I can just use a bolt/nut combo to pinch the connection again.

The damn spindle is stuck though so I'm trying to use a c-clamp to push it the rest of the way out (it sticks half-way through).

ah, good stuff.... make sure to use Lock nuts!! or nylock or stover nuts!!

Or all 3!! hahah

Lol, I'll get it tight, no worries there.

My dad came over with his air compressor and it took him less then a minute to use the air chisel to spread the pinch structure and then he used an air hammer to smack it out of there. The new one went in perfectly and everything is bolted up right now. I coated all that crap with lithium grease in case I ever need to remove it again. :D

I'll post a pic of the shredded balljoint a bit later, it was fucked up.

Sounds like you owned it!!!

good stuff.

Evan