Unfortunate Update... Things didn't go too well. I drilled a small hole in the center of the broken bolt. The first catastrophe was when the small drill bit broke off. With a lot of luck, I managed to get the broken end of the drill bit out of the bolt, but then the second catastrophe landed when the easy out broke off. This was what I feared would happen, and sure enough it did. Anybody have an idea as to how I can get the broken easy out tip out of the hole? Thanks for any help you can offer.... Art
A hand held rotory tool that uses carbide tips and other types of bits for cutting, grinding etc. I have used one for many years to remove those stubron things that I just can't get anything lse to work on. Takes patience and a steady hand especialy on delicate projects. It's very precise working. If you get the practice it does wonders. They have them and the bits at Home Depot or other tool places. They make some pretty small tips. Sometimes just the vibrations that it generates will rattle the broken drills or easy outs out. You gotta be patient tho.
As you apply the fast rotating tip of the bit, you want to barely and SLOWLY just touch the part you want to grind on. It's not about pressure. Gotta have eye and hand wear. Makes fine metal dust and shavings.
Art, I'm curious - did you use PB Blaster and soak it and tap on it for a couple days before trying the easy out? If you can get that bond to weaken between the 2 dissimilar metals, the easy out should have worked without breaking. To get the easy out - out, can you get at it with a very thin sharpened punch to rotate it clockwise? Gluing a screw head onto the center cap is looking better and better .........
Here's what I did, I soaked the screws for a couple of days with Liquid Wrench. I then drilled the holes. I broke the drill bit off, so I got gun shy about drilling too much more (I didn't drill all the way through). In hindsight I "should" have soaked the screws for another couple of days, but I got rammy and gave the easy out a try. It didn't take much to break it off (since it's the smallest one in the set) and now I'm screwed. I still have the "other" screw that I haven't tried to get out (since the easy out is broke, lol). so I've got some options on that one yet. I was also thinking, even if I screw up the threads in the rim, I might be able to just use a longer screw and put a lock nut on the back side of the rim? Anyway, I think I'm going to try to drill from the back side and see what happens.....
Do the holes go all the way through the wheel? You won't be able to use a lock nut on the back. Unless you counter sink, it would interfere with the wheel mounting flat against the drum or rotor. I have never really had good luck with Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster seems to work a lot better.
Well there you go, I wasn't thinking it all the way through, I can't put a nut on the bolt unless I countersink it. I'm not willing mess with the rim that much, would hate to screw it up. I'm going to try the drill again, see if I can get it all the way through, and I'm going to try getting the easy out to come loose. Wish me luck... Thanks... Art
I just pulled my wheels off for the first time and have to repair mine. The previous owner drilled the holes out and put nuts on the back. I am planning on welding the holes then drilling and tapping. Are the original screws aluminum and not steel?
The original screws are metal with a chrome plating. I was hoping (have not started searching yet) to be able to find some new ones in stainless steel, and I was going to put a ton of never seize on the threads......
