Best/fastest way to fix this...

tonybolton · Aug 8, 2015

Of all things I was putting a tarp back over my rig and when I was securing one of the straps underneath it I looked up and saw the below....

Upper link bar chassis side bolt broken.

Cut through misalignment spacer....or cut in between nut and bracket tab?

patooyee · Aug 8, 2015

If you can get at the nut to cut there you can cut the nut off, pound it toward the frame from the outside, make another cut, pound it again, cut again, etc. until it all falls out. Take it out in 1/2" chunks. This preserves the bracket, spacers, and the heim. If you cut the misalignment spacer you'll still have to make at least one cut where I am saying.

tonybolton · Aug 8, 2015

Re:

Hmmmmm....i like that.....good call!

I guess the Sawzall blade can get up in there.

patooyee · Aug 8, 2015

First cut will be the worst since you're going through the nut and the bolt. After that it will just be the bolt.

5BrothersFabrication · Aug 8, 2015

Re:

tonybolton said:
Hmmmmm....i like that.....good call!

I guess the Sawzall blade can get up in there.

Be a time consuming cut! :****:

Eddyj · Aug 8, 2015

No plasma?? I keep old tips around for gouging. Then hit the nut with a chisel.

tonybolton · Aug 8, 2015

Re:

I do not have a plasma.

onepieceatatime · Aug 8, 2015

Cut what thread is showing, push it out farther with a punch then so you don't hAve to cut the nut, then you hopefully removed enough bolt that it falls out :dunno:

tonybolton · Aug 8, 2015

Re:

Thanks guys.....my neighbors are thanking you for reducing the ****s that will be said during this extraction.

1tfrot · Aug 8, 2015

onepieceatatime said:
Cut what thread is showing, push it out farther with a punch then so you don't hAve to cut the nut, then you hopefully removed enough bolt that it falls out

I was thinking similar. cut exposed thread, push it closer to frame again and cut between nut and bracket. might be enough to walk the rest out. minimal work possibly

Eddyj · Aug 8, 2015

onepieceatatime said:
Cut what thread is showing, push it out farther with a punch then so you don't hAve to cut the nut, then you hopefully removed enough bolt that it falls out

X2

Neal3000 · Aug 8, 2015

I'd try a 7" cut off wheel on a small grinder, cut that nut off flush with the bracket, then just keep punching it through from the other side and cutting it till the bolt is gone

Eddyj · Aug 8, 2015

Neal3000 said:
I'd try a 7" cut off wheel on a small grinder, cut that nut off flush with the bracket, then just keep punching it through from the other side and cutting it till the bolt is gone

Craig_c · Aug 8, 2015

Get a new bolt and throw it in the toolbox, run it till the link falls out, install new bolt.

Toddy · Aug 9, 2015

Torch would be fastest. If that's not an option might try and split nut and send rest of bolt back thru.

Looks like inside spacer is messed up too.

74_Chevota · Aug 9, 2015

Craig_c said:
Get a new bolt and throw it in the toolbox, run it till the link falls out, install new bolt.

laughing1 laughing1 laughing1

patooyee · Aug 9, 2015

74_Chevota said:
laughing1 laughing1 laughing1

Get some new shocks, driveshafts, u-joints and throw them in there at the same time!

pholmann · Aug 9, 2015

Take a nut and place it directly over the broken end of the bolt, weld the nut through the center to the bolt. Take two wrenches and remove the nut that's threaded on and remove and replace the bolt. This is how I remove broken exhaust manifold bolts in heads. If you need help give me a shout and I'll ride down and give you a Gand or load it up and bring it over and I'll help you with it. I need to get your jacket back to you anyway.

85toyo · Aug 9, 2015

pholmann said:
Take a nut and place it directly over the broken end of the bolt, weld the nut through the center to the bolt. Take two wrenches and remove the nut that's threaded on and remove and replace the bolt. This is how I remove broken exhaust manifold bolts in heads. If you need help give me a shout and I'll ride down and give you a Gand or load it up and bring it over and I'll help you with it. I need to get your jacket back to you anyway.

It looks like some of the bolt went with the head. I can not see it through the link tab. If that's the case, welding on a nut could be tricky.

Using a small nut to sit inside the hole, flush with the broken bolt, would probably be hard to get a wrench on. Maybe a socket if you use a small enough nut.
Using a bigger nut, similar in size to the bolt, could potentially weld to the link tab if there is to much of a gap.

I've done the same with exhaust bolts but it was also on aluminum heads so there wasn't any possibility of welding it to the head.