Technical Broken wheel nut removal

[g8rpi]

If the bolts have sheared flush with the disk, take the disk off and there may be enough length exposed to get a pair of mole grips on.
Were those OEM bolts or aftermarket? It should take a fair bit of force to shear a wheel bolt.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[allan jenkins]

If the bolts have sheared flush with the disk, take the disk off and there may be enough length exposed to get a pair of mole grips on.
Were those OEM bolts or aftermarket? It should take a fair bit of force to shear a wheel bolt.

Robert G8RPI.

The bolts have sheared off inside and there is nothing to get hold of. They are genuine fiat bolts. (9 years old) I must have the strength of ten bears... ??

 

[ArthurM]

Hi AJ.The bits for the impact screwdrivers are about 1" long so as long as the snapped off bolt is less than this,you've cracked it.These bolts must be really tight so I do not think extractors will do the job.They are very hard and VERY brittle and are easily snapped off if too much force is used.The tendency is to drill the smallest of holes and then to use the smallest extractor.If you still want to go down the extractor root,drill the biggest hole you can for the biggest extractor.There's also not much purchase on them so it is not easy to put a lot of weight behind them. Buy a can of drill cutting fluid,you're going to need it,as it helps the drill to cut and reduces the need to sharpen quite as often
You can buy locking nut removal tools off amazon.Never used one but I am sure someone will have some knowledge of these.

 

[aurick86]

. Buy a can of drill cutting fluid,you're going to need it,as it helps the drill to cut and reduces the need to sharpen quite as often
You can buy locking nut removal tools off amazon.Never used one but I am sure someone will have some knowledge of these.

There is no need for special cutting fluid. just use motor oil or even better : water.
The basic thing is DON'T DRILL TOO FAST. never get the bit hotter that the point at which water evaporates... keep it cold=keep it sharp.
FIY:
6mm drill bit ~1500rpm.
8mm drill bit ~1000rpm
10mm drill bit ~ 800 rpm.

^^^Take that^^^ with a big pinch of salt.

 

[g8rpi]

<SNIP>.These bolts must be really tight so I do not think extractors will do the job.<SNIP>

As the bolts have sheared off, they will no longer be tight as they are no longer under tension. The holes in the hub are tapped through so the bolts won't be bottomed out. A LH drill would probably screw them out before drilling a hole through.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[ArthurM]

Hi all. G8rpi is spot on with his advice as are many others. For some reason I thought the wheel nut was broken off when undoing it, thus being seized in the hole. My advice would be for a seized bolt/screw etc.(I'm getting old so I've got age on my side) LOL

 

[Moimo]

What about a replacement hub, if the cost of requirements to defeat the broken parts(which I'm sure we would all like to see) the hub comes in all manner of components to units but the hub it's self would be a cost effective method of repair.

 

[allan jenkins]

Well I've weighed all the options of firstly buying extractors. Then trying to drill out the bolts myself in the hope they will come out.
(Knowing me and my heavy hands I'll fook it up..lol)
After all that thought I've decided to take it to a garage.
They have told me that they will remove the hub and drill out the bolts then send it around the corner to some bloke who will re tap the threads.
And I've also ordered all new bolts for all 4 wheels and locking nuts.
It's easier that way... lol ?

 

[g8rpi]

Well I've weighed all the options of firstly buying extractors. Then trying to drill out the bolts myself in the hope they will come out.
(Knowing me and my heavy hands I'll fook it up..lol)
After all that thought I've decided to take it to a garage.
They have told me that they will remove the hub and drill out the bolts then send it around the corner to some bloke who will re tap the threads.
And I've also ordered all new bolts for all 4 wheels and locking nuts.
It's easier that way... lol

Hi,
Obviously I've not seen the car, but that sounds very wrong. How much are they charging? They should not have to remove the hub to get the studs out. I doubt you have damaged the threads (they can't tell there are studs in the holes) so why do they need re-threading? Why remove the hub to rethread? most importantly IF the threads are damaged they should not be re-threaded on a highly stressed critical part like this. Helicoils are possible but there is probably not eneothe edge distance for safety. Finally if they are taking the hub off, don't bother removing the broken studs or the engineering company round the corner, just fit a new hub. They cost less than £30 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-FEBI-BILSTEIN-OE-QUALITY-FRONT-LEFT-OR-RIGHT-WHEEL-HUB-40231-/351584321909?fits=Car+Make%3AFiat%7CModel%3ABravo&hash=item51dc0f0175:g:acUAAOSwlV9WT2Bo
Even of you added a new bearing (as the old one may be damaged pulling the hub out, oh they were doing that anyway...) that less than £15.


Either the garage don't know what they are doing so have loaded the job, or they are deliberately pricing it up.


Ask them for a price for just fitting a new hub and bearing. then phone a couple of other garages for a price for hub replacement.


Robert G8RPI.

 

[aurick86]

They are probably taking the hubs out to make life easier => taking them to a machine shop, to take care of the bolts.

Even so ... if they don't remove the complete knuckle you will have extra costs not initially mentioned, like.. bearings.

Then again.. you do want to pay for somebody else to do the job... i would leave it up to them to find the solution they feel comfortable going with.

That being said:
get the wrench you used on the bolts and cut away about half a meter off the end off it.
There is a reason cars get shipped with small ~30 cm wrenches.. the leverage is supposed to be enough to correctly install and uninstall the bolts.

 

[g8rpi]

They are probably taking the hubs out to make life easier => taking them to a machine shop, to take care of the bolts.

Even so ... if they don't remove the complete knuckle you will have extra costs not initially mentioned, like.. bearings.

Then again.. you do want to pay for somebody else to do the job... i would leave it up to them to find the solution they feel comfortable going with.


Trouble is I don't think the garage know what they are doing.

That being said:
get the wrench you used on the bolts and cut away about half a meter off the end off it.
There is a reason cars get shipped with small ~30 cm wrenches.. the leverage is supposed to be enough to correctly install and uninstall the bolts.
Or even better, get a torque wrench.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I hope you will find that as there is no pressure on teh remaining thread that it will remove quite easily. I have found this to be the case before. Srew extractors have a sort of reverse spiral thread that grips the side of the hole you drill onto the stuck bolt. I have also used a Dremmel type tool with a micro cutting disc to cut a slot into a broken bolt to good effect. Then a screw driver. An impact one will certainly get you out of trouble.

If you use a screw extractor dont be tempted to under do it on size and do a drill of at least 5mm. The last thing you want is a broken extractor stuck in the bolt end. I expect with nothing holding it this will come out without trouble. Anyhow. Good luck.

 

[ArthurM]

Hi AJ. Your issue should really be an easy fix.By the looks of it the garage are going to charge you an arm and a leg, plus all of the extra bits(BEARINGS ETC).Have you thought of asking another garage who have mechanics and not technicians? Have a go yourself, plenty of answers on this trend.

 

[allan jenkins]

When you're right your right guys...
As time was an essence. I bit the bullet and went to a garage.
At first they did try drilling out the bolts (i seen that).. that didn't work..
so after a new hub.. bearing kit and labour I was stung for £190. !!!!
All because I took the wheel off to put bloody mudflaps on.. lol

 

[aurick86]

I'm sorry i was right and they got you paying for that stuff.
Thank you for posting back.
At least it's fixed.. and you know to get a torque wrench.

 

[RedBravoTjet]

I had a broken locking nut on a v30 recently. It took me 4 hours to get it out. I have also cracked the corner of a cam cover before with minimal force. Over tightening is worse than under tightening. But don't feel bad it has happened to the best of us

 

[allan jenkins]

I'm putting it down to my mate..
He changed all my discs and pads and I think he over tightened the bolts when he did the job as they were tight when I undid them and had to get a bar in the wrench..
So when I went to tighten them up I think the bolts had weakened and just snapped... ?