Removing sheared bolt- Ideas?
Discussion
Folks,
Much to my annoyance I have discovered that one of the Torx bolts holding airbag to steering wheel has sheared off in the 'ole... My fault for overtightening it back in I think! Having somewhat of a day of it as I also can't get the steering wheel main bolt undone in order to adjust the angle of the new wheel slightly.
Is there a non-invasive way of getting the remainder of the bolt out? I could then use the identical Torx bolt from my old steering wheel/airbag. I would rather not splash out on another airbag unit if I don't need to, however realise that due to the nature of the part some of the more exciting removal options might not be advisable!
Ta,
Sam
Much to my annoyance I have discovered that one of the Torx bolts holding airbag to steering wheel has sheared off in the 'ole... My fault for overtightening it back in I think! Having somewhat of a day of it as I also can't get the steering wheel main bolt undone in order to adjust the angle of the new wheel slightly.
Is there a non-invasive way of getting the remainder of the bolt out? I could then use the identical Torx bolt from my old steering wheel/airbag. I would rather not splash out on another airbag unit if I don't need to, however realise that due to the nature of the part some of the more exciting removal options might not be advisable!
Ta,
Sam
Is there anything of a stub left at all?
If there isn't, you could try:
1. Glueing the end of another bolt to the stub - might work if it's not tight
2. Drilling a small hole in the middle of the stub and using this hole to do nr 1
3. Drilling the bolt out completely
4. Use stud extractors:
http://mikes-models.com/blog/index.php/2009/07/how...
http://quayvipersmcc.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=15...
5. Plenty of other ideas:
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q...
Take yer pick - good luck!
If there isn't, you could try:
1. Glueing the end of another bolt to the stub - might work if it's not tight
2. Drilling a small hole in the middle of the stub and using this hole to do nr 1
3. Drilling the bolt out completely
4. Use stud extractors:
http://mikes-models.com/blog/index.php/2009/07/how...
http://quayvipersmcc.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=15...
5. Plenty of other ideas:
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q...
Take yer pick - good luck!
I take it you mean the head of the bolt has sheared off?
Have you been able to remove the airbag from the steering wheel?
Airbag mounting bolts normally screw into a threaded plate, rather than a cavity, in which case, once the head has sheared off, there should be no tension on the remainder of the bolt, so it should be easy enough to just unscrew it from the threaded plate either by hand of using pliers....
Have you been able to remove the airbag from the steering wheel?
Airbag mounting bolts normally screw into a threaded plate, rather than a cavity, in which case, once the head has sheared off, there should be no tension on the remainder of the bolt, so it should be easy enough to just unscrew it from the threaded plate either by hand of using pliers....
Thanks for the replies thus far. Sorry for my lack of technical clarity in the names of things, not mechanically minded...
Basically, the old steering wheel had airbag bolts which were deeply recessed, therefore when tightening the new ones, I misjudged the correct depth and overtightened, therefore the head and half the body of one has sheared off leaving some in the body of the airbag... unfortunately it is flush with the airbag, no room to grab a bit and unscrew.
I am sorely tempted by the less invasive procedures here, however will have a go drilling it out I think. Bit of a pain in the arse, as whilst it's been like this for ages I didn't know about it. But now I do, would probably rather not use the car!
Basically, the old steering wheel had airbag bolts which were deeply recessed, therefore when tightening the new ones, I misjudged the correct depth and overtightened, therefore the head and half the body of one has sheared off leaving some in the body of the airbag... unfortunately it is flush with the airbag, no room to grab a bit and unscrew.
I am sorely tempted by the less invasive procedures here, however will have a go drilling it out I think. Bit of a pain in the arse, as whilst it's been like this for ages I didn't know about it. But now I do, would probably rather not use the car!
FreeLitres said:
Just a thought -
You might want to be careful if you are trying techniques that could set off the airbag? Might hammering/sawing cause enough vibration to set it off?
I'm just imagining a screwdriver flying towards your skull at 200 mph
Air-bags are triggered by sensors mounted on the cars chassis and need an electrical impulse to set it off. Definitely disconnect the battery but there's no need to worry about impacts to the steering wheel setting it off.You might want to be careful if you are trying techniques that could set off the airbag? Might hammering/sawing cause enough vibration to set it off?
I'm just imagining a screwdriver flying towards your skull at 200 mph
busta said:
Air-bags are triggered by sensors mounted on the cars chassis and need an electrical impulse to set it off. Definitely disconnect the battery but there's no need to worry about impacts to the steering wheel setting it off.
The irony is that there are Capacitors in the Airbag ECU with more than enough charge to set it off, battery disconnected or not...Rich_W said:
busta said:
Air-bags are triggered by sensors mounted on the cars chassis and need an electrical impulse to set it off. Definitely disconnect the battery but there's no need to worry about impacts to the steering wheel setting it off.
The irony is that there are Capacitors in the Airbag ECU with more than enough charge to set it off, battery disconnected or not...Rich_W said:
busta said:
Air-bags are triggered by sensors mounted on the cars chassis and need an electrical impulse to set it off. Definitely disconnect the battery but there's no need to worry about impacts to the steering wheel setting it off.
The irony is that there are Capacitors in the Airbag ECU with more than enough charge to set it off, battery disconnected or not...Better safe than sorry - I for one do not go near airbags. I am a dab hand with throwing spanners/multimeters about, but airbags give me the heebeegeebees. Good luck to you!
Oh, and as others have said, a small pilot hole and a bolt extractor would be a good start if its flush.
From the OP I'm guessing the head is now gone and there is now just a bit of threaded rod in the hole. I would suggest drilling a hole (5mm deep would do the job) into the bolt shaft a few mm less than the thread OD to leave a safe margin then using an easy-out of the appropriate size to get the remnants of the bolts out. After doing this you won't affect the hole thread so you will be able to same spec parts to replace the bolt. I can't be arsed googling easy-outs but I'm perfectly confident you will be able to look them up yourself.
ETA: Sorry M400, yours was the sole post I didn't read before posting my reply.
ETA: Sorry M400, yours was the sole post I didn't read before posting my reply.
Edited by Beartato on Friday 28th May 20:17
UPDATE- I am still alive, thanks!
As it happens the remaining part of thread was easy to undo using the other end of the sheared bolt- Still a highly frustrating job however as halfway through I lost the extension and Torx bit, necessitating a bike trip to the tool shop- Still haven't found the bugger either!
..and then the bolt on the other side sheared too. But luckily came out as easy as the other one.
However, initial indications show that the steering wheel is now slightly off-centre in the opposite direction- So clearly a fruitful exercise! Gah.
As it happens the remaining part of thread was easy to undo using the other end of the sheared bolt- Still a highly frustrating job however as halfway through I lost the extension and Torx bit, necessitating a bike trip to the tool shop- Still haven't found the bugger either!
..and then the bolt on the other side sheared too. But luckily came out as easy as the other one.
However, initial indications show that the steering wheel is now slightly off-centre in the opposite direction- So clearly a fruitful exercise! Gah.
carreauchompeur said:
However, initial indications show that the steering wheel is now slightly off-centre in the opposite direction- So clearly a fruitful exercise! Gah.
This sounds as though you need to get the tracking set by someone with the ability to set it with the steering wheel centred and keep it centred, assuming all else with the column is in the correct orientation.Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff