Hey guys,

I need some advice. So I had to remove my front bumper to do some work. After I was finished, I was bolting the bumper back on to where it meets the front of the frame when the head of the bolt just snapped off!! Anybody had an issue like this before? I don't know how Im gonna get this bolt out now...

 

You could try and drill it out but thats iffy sometimes.
Or try one of the "Bolt Extractor" bits and see if that works.

only other option is to try and weld a small square piece of metal to it and try and wrench it out with the square piece.
Or weld a small nut to it and use a socket slowly to get it off.

Sorry man, thats always a tough one.
good luck, maybe other ppl have some other options for ya.

 

is there any of the bolt sticking out? If there is, vice grips are your friend, or you could cut a groove into it and try a flathead screwdriver. If not there is a bit called an "easyout" drill a hole into whats left of the bolt and use that. Penetrating oil always helps too. If that all fails, drill the whole thing out and then re-tap.

Good luck!

 

they make reverse drill bits. use them. they will get cought on whats in there when drilling and make it untread out. they work very well. i use them at work all the time.

 

Yea, they are called easy outs. They are easy to use and will get it out, no problem.

 

where can i buy the easy outs?

 

you should be able to buy them at a local parts store

 

+1 on the reverse drill bits. IF the bolt bolt from overtightening, you have a chance with this. IF it broke because you cross-threaded it, then have fun getting it out. Use reverse drill bits, start small, then larger diameter, then try an easy-out. If the threads are damaged, install a Heli-Coil. . . You mentioned that the bolt goes into the 'frame'? Are the threads actually in a structural member, or does the bolt go into a 'speednut'. If it uses a speednut, then just replace the speednut with another one.

 

Last time I broke a bolt, I just used a drill bit smaller than the bolt, drilled into the bolt, then I reversed the drill and bolt came right out.

 

just buy a reverse kit at any home improvement store. I bought a set at home depot.

 

Since you have the bolt head off, cant you access the remaining part from behind and just turn it with a pliers until it get through from the back?

I had a somewhat similar issue before. The right side bumper bolt got stripped (the one on the bumper hole) so I could not get it off. It just keep on turning even if I pull it wile turning. I have to go under and saw off the bolt head off and get the stucked part from behind the welded nut on the frame.

 

thanks everybody for their advice. very good help. me and a buddy tried using some type of special bit set that he had for this type of thing but we couldnt get it to come out. ill try to find one of those reverse bits or easy outs and see if that does the trick. thanks everybody for your help!

 

I have a Grabit bolt extractor set and it works great.

http://www.4grabit.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1

It has worked everytime. For the record my teenage boy and neighbors use it most.

 

In an snap. I love those things

 

I have had several bolts break on my car. It seems that the stock hardware is crap. If your car has seen any kind of weather you should expect to break some bolts.

My method was always to drill it out and re-tap the hole. It isn't the easiest but it works every time. I tried the extractor sets, grabbing the back of the bolt and attempting to back it out, but I have never tried the reverse bits. Sounds like they are worth investing in.

Be sure to replace the broken hardware with higher quality bolts. If they are non essential, ie require torque, then put on some antiseize.

Another word of advice is to spray every bolt with penetrating oil and let them soak before turing a wrench. This will save you a ton of time later because your bolts won't break.

Paul