Thanks for all those contributing to this thread.

I now have the news that my Multi is to be repatriated (it's because there is so much snowboard stuff which insurers are obliged to return that it's easiest to stick it all in the Multi and send home!0.

So I will have A Multi Robin on my drive soon.

I know the wheel bolts have sheared in the hub. My question is;

Is it feasible to drill/extract the sheared bolts from the hub?

If so what is the best method?

If not what is the nest best option?

With my thanks in advance to anybody willing to spend a bit of time in consideration and responding.

Brian

Brian Partridge said:

Thanks for all those contributing to this thread.
<SNIP>

I know the wheel bolts have sheared in the hub. My question is;

Is it feasible to drill/extract the sheared bolts from the hub?

If so what is the best method?

If not what is the nest best option?

With my thanks in advance to anybody willing to spend a bit of time in consideration and responding.

Brian

Click to expand...

Hi Brian,
Glad it's coming home.
Extracting the broken bolts is possible and should not be difficult.
You need to use a screw extractor (not a stud extractor). My preferrence is for the type that come with a left hand drill bit that you use in a reversible (cordless) drill. Something like
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/grabit-bolt-screw-remover/
As the broken ends are no longer under tension they may well come out when you try to drill the hole. You need to drill the hole as close to the centre of the bolt as possble, use a center punch first. If the end does not come out when you drill it, you reverse the but and drive the spiral end in and the grabs the broken part and it unscrews. If it's still tight apply a bit of heat to the hub flange. A paint stripper type hot air gun is ideal for this.
An older type extractor is https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cht526-12pce-drill-screw-extractor-s/ Don't go too big compared to the bolt size with this type as they can expand the bolt making it tighter.

HTH,
Robert G8RPI

If you have any hassle, you might consider a donor hub, they are not hard to find and are not expensive.
George

Chances are when you remove the disc enough of the stud will be proud of the hub to allow removal with a vice grips. Also you may be able to work on them from the back of the hub. Marty.

Thanks for all those contributing to this thread.

I know the wheel bolts have sheared in the hub. My question is;

Is it feasible to drill/extract the sheared bolts from the hub?

If so what is the best method?

If not what is the nest best option?

With my thanks in advance to anybody willing to spend a bit of time in consideration and responding.

Hi Robert,

Thank you so much for this advice which I shall certainly follow.
Some doubt whether they, the breakdown insurers, are prepared to repatriate as they have a get out clause that they are not obliged to do so if the cost or repatriation exceeds cost of vehicle which they value as £1100. However they will not be compensating me with the £1100 - thus a get out clause.

Kind regards,

Brian

Brian Partridge said:

Thanks for all those contributing to this thread.

I know the wheel bolts have sheared in the hub. My question is;

Is it feasible to drill/extract the sheared bolts from the hub?

If so what is the best method?

If not what is the nest best option?

With my thanks in advance to anybody willing to spend a bit of time in consideration and responding.

Click to expand...

it depends on the method of failure..
my guess would be a bolt of two were loose and flew out.. then the remainder stretched / necked until they were also loose and then the last one hanging in there just snapped,

so you'll have;

a sheared stub,

some damaged threads

use a centre punch to dot the middle of the remaining stub,
drill a 4 or 5 mm hole @ 10mm deep ( or through..)

then a @7 or 8 mm hole @6mm deep ( ideally use a drill ground to run in reverse.. so it'll grab and withdraw the stub) or just an easy-out

the idea of drilling a stepped hole is that the easy-out is tapered ..and you've given it 2 x edges to grab

I use this style -
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41FFt8JRM3L._AC_UL320_SR310,320_.jpg

be careful - use eye protection , and decent gloves

with the potentially rough threads,
get a few used wheel bolts from a scrap yard, and put a few hacksaw cuts along one bolts thread.. it'll work as a chaser.. cleaning the threads.. use oil

have fun ,
Charlie

Thank you Isabelle,
When my sonsgfet back, sans Multipla, I'll make enquiries.
Kind regards
Brian

Thank you Charlie,
I shall certainly follow this should I get the car back.
Kind regards,
Brian

Hi All,

Well it looks as Multi Robin is being returned on Thursday.

I've taken everbody's advice on this thread and have ordered a shed load of cobalt drills, cutting lube, bolt extractors etc.

It now appears that a couple of wheel bolts may have worked loose first and the others sheared. Time will tell.

My question is will the threads in the hubs still be serviceable and useable?

If not am I looking at a new hub assembly for which I'll need a press to remove/insert bearing?

I'll will take photos and keep this thread up to date.

Thanks again all contributors.

I'm so very pleased Robin is returning, have been following your posts.
Where in the country are you ? If local to me I may be able to assist.
Check the threads of the bolts that feel out first , if they are shot you will need replacement hub. Better to find out before spending time and effort extracting broken bolts.
Be careful with broken bolt extractor if they break off in bolt they cannot be drilled out.
If you know someone who can weld try welding an old nut to broken bolt and then unscrewing no chance of damaging threads that way.
If you end up needing new hub, either get second hand hub/steering knuckle complete or remove your hub/knuckle and take it with a new hub and bearing to local mechanic to fit new parts.
Good luck.

Considering the (unkown) shocks that hub &amp; strut may have taken, I'd be very tempted to just replace the whole strut/hub assembly with one from a breakers. They can be had cheaply on ebay. I'd also give the steering rack, tie rods and ends a careful check.<br />
<br />
If you need a new hub, I've got a spare new Birth one you can have if you cover postage. The problem with that is that you'd also need a new wheel bearing (I may have a new one of those lying around somewhere as well). I doubt very much the old one will come off in one piece.....

I'd do what widemouth suggests... actually be an easy enough job to swap the strut and hub carrier with one from a scrappy. Make sure they leave the ABS sensor in, that's the tricky bit getting that out without breaking it. Marty.

Has robin made it back home now?

Brian Partridge

HI BP. Have a look in the search section for broken wheel nut removal dated 11.03.17, lots of options including the result

Thanks again to all contributors to this thread. Its just so encouraging that so many fellow Multi owners are taking an interest and it makes me more determined to get her on the road again.
Problem was that I'm going away on Monday effectively until 16th May. Now can you guess when the car was to be delivered? Not last Thursday as promised but Monday!
Fortunately the very kind recovery people have said they can keep it in their yard in Essex till we return.
This really helps as another complication was that we are having the front drive resurfaced just where the Multi was to be tackled. At least now the drive can be done and I'll have a nice surface to see what's what in May.
I shall keep you all posted with photos etc.
Kind regards
Brian

Hi Jackwoo,
I've only just caught up with this so thank you.
I'm by the seaside in Hythe, Kent.
Car now in Essex.
Brian

Hi widemouthfrog,
That's a very kind offer. Thanks.
I won't know state of hub etc till I get vcar back in May.
I'll certainly keep in touch.
Thanks again,
Briab

Hi All,
Well I have finally had my multi returned yesterday.
The UK recovery team (Warley Auto Salvage of Brentwod, Essex) very kindly held onto the car till I had returned from pre-booked family holidays. They were also very careful to put Multi just where I wanted it on my newly tarmacced drive. Couldn't speak more highly of them.
I will try to add a picture but suffice to say that three of the nuts had sheared leaving one which had merely disappeared. This did at least allow the recovery firm to attach the wheel courtesy of one bolt stolen from a rear wheel.
So I followed advice (thanks Widemouth, Marty et al) and proceeded to drill out centre of sheared bolts in preparation for newly purchased easy out. Unfortunately I had no success with this even though I tried with all three. Probably something to do with my technique!
So resorted to drilling out and then using tap and die set bought from Screwfix to clean out threads. Although the tap (M12) was fine the handle to turn it was useless so resorted to adjustable spanner.
Eventually managed to clear threads, replace brake caliper and hub then wheel. However one thread was non existent so was left with three and I'm not fully happy with one of these!
However at least I could take it very carefully around the block to ascertain that it all worked and that my Multi has the potential to be a runner very soon so not disheartened.
I've ordered new bits rather than trying to source arm/hub assembly and I'm hoping my local garage who did the MOT (and probably over tightened the bolts in the first place) will press out the old bearing and press in the new one.
Widemouth if your offer is still open I'd like to take you up on it so as to have matching new hubs though the one from Shop4Parts was just £22.18 which I thought very reasonable.
I'll keep you all informed of progress and once more my thanks.
Kind egards,
Brian
ps must I source the wheel locators which also initially hold hub in place from Fiat?