A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Got new tyres fitted and my alloys back on this week but one of the bolts sheared and is stuck in the disc without enough left to get any purchase on it with bottle nose pliars or anything.
Its the front n/s so if worst comes to worst i'll take the disc off easily enough but can anyone recommend an easy method for getting it out?
Im thinking about bonding the broken bit back on with chemical metal as I can feel the offending bolt move slighly in the disc, it just wont turn. Then carefully reversing it out.
Any other suggestions?
EDIT: Im a bit concerned as this is the 5th bolt to snap since the last trackday I did.
A:
Hi Phil,
Firstly, are these genuine VE wheel bolts? Just wondering if they were aftermarket/non-standard and weren't up to the job? ie. taking the abuse of a trackday, or maybe not dealing with the more extreme heat/cooling that comes from trackday abuse. Did you check the tightness of the bolts during and after the trackday? Could they have been slightly loose since the day and have fatigued since?
Has it snapped flush with the edge of the disk, so that if the disk was removed you'd have approx 5mm or so protuding from the hub? If that's the case, you might find there's enough purchase with a pair of mole grips or something similar. You might find that with the disk out of the way, there's enough in front and behind the hub to twist it out by hand.
Hope you get it sorted, mate - and maybe worth spending the money at VW to get brand new bolts. Probably well worth the £32 or so that it'd cost if you're enjoying the trackdays as much as it seems you have!
A:
I'm pretty sure they are the original bolts from 1990 and are just fatigued and failed over time. They have the VW/AUDI stamp on them and I did check them during and after the trackday, I reckon its just down to the amount of times Ive had the wheels off the car in the past year and a half, nearly every weekend!
The last 4 that snapped I was able (just about) to get them out with my fingers slowly turning til there was anough to get mole grips on them but this one is well in the disc looking at the outward face. Think there may be enough in behind to get grips on but then the disc has to come off. Going to have anothe look at it this morning when I get back from putting my mandatory saturday football bet on.
On the plus side though, Im loving having my alloys back on. I'd just about had enough of the white steelies
A:
Just bonded a tiny nut on with chemical metal. Time for a coffee to let it harden and fingers crossed.
A:
Just looked at the pic and noticed the wee bit of cm sitting between the disc and the bolt. Had to go quickly remove it before it hardened
A:
Well spotted.
If that fails do you have a dremel? you could try grinding a slot onto the surface of the stud and remove it with a screwdriver. Might even get away with just hammering the screwdriver or chisel into the stud.
A:
Dont have a dremmel Bundles or I would have done that first. If it fails I'll try and hanner a notch with a chissel then try the same with a screwdriver.
A:
drill out the centre of the bolt till you are approx .5 mm from the thread then tap it with a pin punch till it falls to bits then clean with a tap .
bonding a small nut on will do nothing apart from wasting you time and glue
A:
drill out the centre of the bolt till you are approx .5 mm from the thread then tap it with a pin punch till it falls to bits then clean with a tap .
bonding a small nut on will do nothing apart from wasting you time and glue
If I had the tools that's what Id do gillm, but as I can feel the offending bolt is loose and I just cant get purchase on it i thought the chemical metal might do the trick.
A:
I dont have a dremmel Bundles
You do realise that's a hanging offence in this day and age don't you mate?
A:
Thats why I am master of the bodge job.
none of the gear , no idea, thats me
A:
Drill hole and use one of these.
If that doesn`t work then increase hole size to below tapping size and retap it.
Ensure you pick up centre of stud accurately.
A:
Drill hole and use one of these.
If that doesn`t work then increase hole size to below tapping size and retap it.
Ensure you pick up centre of stud accurately.
But only buy and use good ones of these, the cheap ones just snap inside the hole and then you are REALLY screwed.
A:
Agreed,Sykes Pickvant ones in Halfords are w@nk.
A:
Agreed,Sykes Pickvant ones in Halfords are w@nk.
And even that's being generouse.
A:
Got it out. Hammered the bejesus out of it with a chissel and got it round a few turns, enough to get some mole grips on it
A:
Got it out. Hammered the bejesus out of it with a chissel and got it round a few turns, enough to get some mole grips on it
Good old gentle persuation.
A:
A decent extractor kit is a forkin god-send, definately worth investing in.