Snapped bolt. Any advice?

Good points, sadly speaking from experience lol.

I’ve delayed so I could find all my options. Unfortunately none of them look good, this has become a much bigger problem and it needs to be put to rest. Either I fix it or I break it, either way I’ll have an answer!!

 

What kind of extractor are you using?


I personally like the flat tops with the sharp edges like the larger two in the pic. Drill out a hole deep as you can and hope it catches. If it doesn’t catch, I’ll file the grooves a bit to get a real sharp edge. I never have any luck with the pointy tops.

 

I would pull the lower control arm and get at it. If it seems like it will not budge with the extractor just keep increasing the drill bit size until you can run a tap through it. If you are really careful and start the hole in the center you can probably re-tap the hole pretty easy. If the hole gets messed up for what ever reason just put a helicoil in it.

 

Fwiw, you can easily grind any of them flat and also shorten them to get just the right diameter for the best bite.

 

I know that guys here like screw extractors but the fault of the tool is that they are hard and can break off inside the drilled hole. I have had much more success grinding a piece non-hardened steel into a four sided taper that you hammer into the drilled hole.

 

Alright gang I’m fed up with the 90 degree adapter. I’m pulling the LCA this week. Anyone have a guide or video they’d recommend?

I’ve got a decent hole drilled. Think lll do a four sided taper as suggested. The holdup has been trying to do this without dropping the LCA, but alas I’ve wasted more time trying to find a way around than just sucking it up

 

I was able to drill mine without dropping the LCA, used a milwaukee cordless and left handed bits, no angle drill. Just had the front up on jack stands and I crawled in on my back head first behind the tire. However, I was pressed for time. Dropping the LCA might help, but I personally wouldn't put money on it.

 

Pretty sure there’s just two bolts on the bottom knuckle side to remove, the two through bolts on the inside to loosen, bottom shock bolt, and the sway bar bolt. It only took me a few minutes to have mine loosened and swung down with full access to the bump stop stud. You don’t need to remove the inside through bolts, just loosen them to swing the LCA down. Mark them cam bolts with a paint marker to hopefully get them lined back up when you tighten them back up. You may want to have your alignment checked afterwards.

 

Its terrible when the simplest task turns into something like this.

 

1. Remove the bolt for the sway-bay when the truck is level, then jack the truck up.
2. remove the shock bolt then proceed to remove the two bolts that go into the spindle.
3. Then loosen the cam tab bolts until the arm will swing down.

1. When reassembling, start with swinging the arm up and just slide the bolt through for the shock.
2. Then I've always used a ratchet strap to bring the UCA/Spindle closer to the LCA. Just wrap the ratchet strap around the upper and lower arm and itll squeeze everything together.
3. Then start with the two bolts by hand that attach the LCA to the spindle. then tighten up insuring you dont cross thread.
   
4. install your swaybar back when the truck is at ride height.
   
5. then tighten up your cam bolts.
6. then recheck you tightened everything up.

i think socket wise youll need a 15mm, 17mm, and a 22mm i think? then whatever open end wrench for the cam tabs.

Oh yea, an impact will speed up the process by a bunch.

 

Be sure to mark the position on cam bolts with paint marker or nail polish and only tighten them with the truck on the ground to prevent bushing damage. The bushings will be in a bind and damage will occur if cam bolts are torqued with the suspension drooped.

 

yeah, i edited as you replied but you are correct.

 

Grind the taper shallow so that it locks into the hole. Good luck, you will get it if you take your time.

 

Well it’s done.
You might notice a new lower control arm. That was completely seized as well. Took it to my dads mechanic who got it sorted for quite a few hours worth of my wage. Said it was not moving at all, had to weld a new nut on the inside.

Next time I won’t try working on my truck with a (probably) broken thumb. Half of this is on me, half is on Toyota

 

Thanks for the update! Been on my mind last two days. Still gonna hit the road on another months long adventure?

 

For sure! I’m looking to replace my rooftop tent with a slide in camper, then hit the road after doing whatever necessary renovations. Next big goal is Arctic circle through Canada, probably a 2mo trip.