How to Remove A Broken Bolt Without Losing Your Mind
If you are an owner who simply enjoys fiddling with his old car even if there’s nothing really wrong with it, then you might have experienced this at least once: trying to remove a bolt only to see its head snapping off at once. Well that’s a real bummer! Instead of you fixing or upgrading your ride, a real stressful scenario now comes right in.
We totally get it that your very first reaction is to panic. But as your trusted car wreckers of all makes and models, we’re telling you there’s no need to fret! For the two long decades that we have been in the scrap cash for cars and Toyota wreckers industry and we have worked with many car hobbyists, car lovers, and car enthusiasts of all kinds. Thankfully, there is a solution to that pesky broken bolt in your car. So before you lose your cool or your sanity, let us help you. Our expert car removalists, auto mechanics, and car wreckers have provided you with a simple step-by-step guide so you could easily and successfully remove a broken bolt.
Here are the things you’ll need:
- An Extracting / Extractor kit
- Drill
- Center Punch
- Hammer
- WD-40 or any lubricant
Before following these steps, make sure you have your safety goggles and gloves on.
1. Center punch the broken bolt.
Using your hammer, make an indentation at the center of the broken bolt with your center punch. Try your very best to place it at very center of the bolt so that as you proceed with all the drilling later on, you won’t risk damaging the threads.
2. Drill a pilot hole into the center.
You need to use a left-handed drill bit for this so that it will torque in the opposite direction of the broken bolt. This will also prevent the broken bolt from getting in tighter. Start with a very small bit because later on, you will need to move on to a bigger bit. Adjust accordingly so won’t damage the threads as you make the hole. You need not put a lot of pressure into drilling the hole. Patience is key. To avoid breaking your small bit (because of heat and friction), put a little oil or WD-40 every now and then. Then, get back to drilling.
3. Place the right size of the extracting bit into the hole.
Using the table or chart that comes in every extracting kit, know which is the appropriate size of the extracting drill bit you’ll use. Extractor bits could have tapered, socket, or T-handle bits. Tap it into place with your hammer.
4. Remove the broken bolt.
Continue to tighten the extractor using your drill. As it turns counterclockwise, the tapered end will catch the bolt and the torque will help loosen it. Again, patiently continue to use your drill until the broken bolt has been completely removed from the surface it was embedded in. Work as gently as possible. Using too much force can possibly break off your extractor, making the situation ever harder to handle.
5. Remove metal filings.
Remove all the metal shavings or filings using an air compressor or magnet.
There are actually many ways for you to deal with broken bolts, screws, and fasteners. It just really depends on the tools you have. As a matter of fact, your success here relies on the quality of your tools and how complete they are. This process that we have shared with you is actually the easiest one you can try. So if you are an owner of Ford vehicles or any vehicle and you really loves to get your hands dirty, then feel free to invest in an extractor or easy-out kit, as you’ll never know when you’ll be dealing with a broken bolt again. Call Advance Car Wreckers, your trusted Ford wreckers Melbourne now!