E36 M3 evo rocker bolt snapped in head.
Discussion
Bit of a problem here gents, snapped the middle hex rocker bolt of into the head. Anyway long story short, had a go at removing the broken bolt nearly had it, but ended up making a mess of it, by snapping a screwdriver tip of it in... so now it cant be driled out.
Now the only option i have is to removed the head and have it spark erodded out re-drilled and helicoiled.
Im in the North west. Anyone recommend anywhere i could take it, or if theres anyone thats competent and has the correct tools in taking the head of removing cams etc, so i can have it repaired then replacing them? be happy to discuss a price.
cheers..!
Any pictures of the offending bolt Bob? just so I can visualise better what I'm thinking about removing!!
I've removed a few broken bolts over the years. Did you break it, or did it break off itself through fatigue/stress??? The reason I asked if you broke it was to establish whether it was on the way in or out it snapped.
I've removed a few broken bolts over the years. Did you break it, or did it break off itself through fatigue/stress??? The reason I asked if you broke it was to establish whether it was on the way in or out it snapped.
rash_decision said:
Any pictures of the offending bolt Bob? just so I can visualise better what I'm thinking about removing!!
I've removed a few broken bolts over the years. Did you break it, or did it break off itself through fatigue/stress??? The reason I asked if you broke it was to establish whether it was on the way in or out it snapped.
ill get a pic up tonight sir, to be honest its a bit of a mess.I've removed a few broken bolts over the years. Did you break it, or did it break off itself through fatigue/stress??? The reason I asked if you broke it was to establish whether it was on the way in or out it snapped.
Originaly it was leaking slightly into the spark plug cylinder, so i nipped it up slightly and the thread was gone. So i drilled it out tapped and helicoiled it. That was a few months ago...
The other night i was checking the plugs and noticed it was leaking again, so i nipped it up slightly and the bolt broke..
so i took rocker cover of drilled in the centre of the bolt tapped in a screwdriver soaked it with wd40 and it began to turn out.. then the tip broke. I driled some more out and tapped in a torx bit it turned again and rounded so i got a bigger one eventually it turned the thread to mush.. so it cant be drilled out or turned now.
what do you think?
evobob said:
ill get a pic up tonight sir, to be honest its a bit of a mess.
Originaly it was leaking slightly into the spark plug cylinder, so i nipped it up slightly and the thread was gone. So i drilled it out tapped and helicoiled it. That was a few months ago...
The other night i was checking the plugs and noticed it was leaking again, so i nipped it up slightly and the bolt broke..
so i took rocker cover of drilled in the centre of the bolt tapped in a screwdriver soaked it with wd40 and it began to turn out.. then the tip broke. I driled some more out and tapped in a torx bit it turned again and rounded so i got a bigger one eventually it turned the thread to mush.. so it cant be drilled out or turned now.
what do you think?
There's got to be some of the bolt left in the hole to grip though? Either that, or it's all out? I've sharpened drills in the past "the wrong way", i.e. ground them to cut turning counter clockwise, in a reversible drill, obviously! I've succesfully started to "reverse" drill them and when the drill bites, the broken bolt turns out. Bolts on cars tend not to be overly tight on the thread, especially with the head off the bolt, which is where the torque is.Originaly it was leaking slightly into the spark plug cylinder, so i nipped it up slightly and the thread was gone. So i drilled it out tapped and helicoiled it. That was a few months ago...
The other night i was checking the plugs and noticed it was leaking again, so i nipped it up slightly and the bolt broke..
so i took rocker cover of drilled in the centre of the bolt tapped in a screwdriver soaked it with wd40 and it began to turn out.. then the tip broke. I driled some more out and tapped in a torx bit it turned again and rounded so i got a bigger one eventually it turned the thread to mush.. so it cant be drilled out or turned now.
what do you think?
Could you not grind a small chisel, to remove some from the middle of the cutting edge to bridge the broken piece of Screwdriver? Tap it down, and assuming it's a standard hex shanked Chisel, turn it out with a small adjustable spanner??
I'd be interested to see the picture when you get the chance to post it up!
That is a bit of a mess Bob!
I think as you say, the hole would need to be machined out bigger, then an Aluminium insert installed, with the correct diameter of hole and thread in that.
You'd be better seeing if you can get a loan of a small Magnetic Based Drill for that, otherwise it could get way more messy! Obviously the Head and Rocker Cover are Aluminium, so it will probably be necessary to make up a small Steel frame, that possibly bolts onto a couple of the good Threaded holes that are remaining.
I think as you say, the hole would need to be machined out bigger, then an Aluminium insert installed, with the correct diameter of hole and thread in that.
You'd be better seeing if you can get a loan of a small Magnetic Based Drill for that, otherwise it could get way more messy! Obviously the Head and Rocker Cover are Aluminium, so it will probably be necessary to make up a small Steel frame, that possibly bolts onto a couple of the good Threaded holes that are remaining.
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