I managed to snap the head off the caliper key bolt on the driver's side of my 1/2 ton F150 2WD.

Has this happened to anyone else? If so, how did you get out? I tried vise grips, but there's not enough room. The bolt is exposed outwards. I'd rather it to go out than back all the way out.

Any ideas?

 

You need to drill a hole in it then use an easy-out, you can buy them at any auto store.

 

Or bolt extractor. Here is a link so you can see what it looks like. Very easy to use, make sure you drill the hole the size it says to.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...Bolt+Extractor

 

well maybe not VERY easy but it's not to bad :P

 

If it fails drill it out and heli coil it back to a 3/8 and make sure to put anti sieze on the bolt to prevent this from happening next time.

 

Buy a reverse twist drill bit. Most hardware's have them. I have had better luck than with extractors.

 

i think this has happened to everyone! hehehe i replace mine with grade 8 bolts.

 

drill it out and retap it. happened to me.

 

x2 on the drill an re tap hardest part is getting the center punched

 

+1ooo on the reverse twist drill bit. Most the time just drilling the hole will turn the stud right out.

 

If all else fails,the calipers are cheap enough to replace. Replace in pairs.

 

weld a nut on the exposed part of the bolt. Let it cool naturally, and it should back right out of there.

 

i used vise grips to turn the bolt thru then, ran a tap thru the threads just to clean them up.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't have any reverse twist drill bits, but sounds like a good investment.

I ended up drilling it out out of frustration since the vise girps did nothing. Hard to center the damn thing! But I did get it out.

Let's see what retapping will bring me. Does anyone know what size? 5/16 looks to be the closest.

Even at my age, I still manage to break bolts.

 

They are no bolts on the calipers on our type of trucks.