i have a 01 QC with 5.9l that has a broken bolt where the thermostat housing goes- the bolt head snapped off so only the threaded part is stuck in there and it is recessed- whats the best way to get it out- and who at dodge came up with the idea of having 2 different size bolts there in the first place- a 13mm and a 5/16 i think- just wondering

 

They make a tool called an Easy-Out for extracting broken bolts. It's not hard to use, is a left handed drill bit that enables you turn the broken bolt out of the hole it's stuck in. It's also called a Bolt Extractor. Harbor Freight sells this set for $8.99 but some guys who reviewed it said it wasn't very good:

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piec...set-40349.html

You could just drill with your own drill bits then use the extractor, they don't look to be too bad of a quality, but HF drill bits suck. They snap in half if you sneeze on them.

This extractor set at Northern Tool looks good but doesn't come with drill bits, only the extractor bits, but they look like good quality for $4.99:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...6164_200396164

Autozone has a few on their web site:

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=535518_0_0_

I guess Lowe's, Advance, Napa and Sears probably all sell extractor sets too. They all work the same way. You drill a pilot hole in the part of the bolt that is stuck in the hole with a regualr drill bit, then tap in these left hand extractor bits and use a wrench or vise grips to turn out and unscrew the extractor with the broken bolt piece. Here's a good article on how to use the extractor tool:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6559722_use-bolt-extractor.html

There are some videos on Youtube for it too.

Hope that helps you out. Good luck.

Jimmy

 

Easy outs are the best to use.

You may be able to tap it, at an angle matching the way you would turn it out, with a chisel or a punch and move it up enough to get a hold of it to get it out. This can work if it is not too tight. You can also try to make a groove in it and turn it out with a screw driver.

Good luck.

 

Easyouts...or, if needed, drill out, and heli-coil. Just make sure you isolate the shavings from going into your coolant system...towels, vacuum...anything...

 

thanks ill give it ez out a try- only have a space about the size of a fist to work in too, which sucks-

 

Word of caution. TAKE YOUR TIME!! grind flat, do whatever you can to get a center punch in the center, soak that bad boy in CRC or any penetrating oil, and then drill...if you track down a left-handed drill bit that is enough to get it out sometimes. And yes, im serious, they make left handed bits(not like a left handed smoke shifter)...

 

we drilled it out, and re threaded the hole, now it bubbles up from the bolt, do i need a new gasket( changed gasket 3 weeks ago and already looks like the one i pulled off after a few years) and a sealant?- changed water pump also before broke bolt, that leaks a lil too, gasket was new,, bolts torqued down to what manuel said- need to have all fixed by mid feb before i drive cross country to wa state

 

I always add rtv sealant to things that have gaskets. Its cheap like 7.00 for a tube of it and it will last you awhile.

 

thanks, ill go get sum tomorrow- now anyone know of a good radiator, and cai, and best dis cap and plugs/wires, and brakes and disks ( will prob have to replace these when i get to Wa)

 

Little off topic, but from VA to WA? Navy or Army?