HELP broke something

Just put a washer under the self tapping screw, it will be fine until he drills out the broke off bolt.

 

I was just going to screw another hole

 

Lefty loosey, righty tighty....just joking man, get that ground back in there somehow, I wouldnt run without it....

 

This is the easiest solution.

 

Not sure if you are up and running again, but you can buy reverse cut drill bit with extractors. Typically, I'll get the broken screw to back out with just the bit and some penetrating oil.

Good luck.

 

Thanks all. I just self tap screwed another hole,

 

Pshhhh after my truck got the frame swap the guys forgot to reconnect my battery ground entirely.... good thing i did my lightbar because i never even noticed till i was trying to ground it off and i was like uhh thats strange. Drove 2 months without it, your fine bruh grab some duct tape.

 

Yeah my man made me think I was going to blow my shit up without the ground

 

Having seen a Chevy Corvair set its own wiring harness on fire because a ground strap was left off after an engine swap, I'd fix it ASAP. You may not burst into flames, but the electronics may stage a revolt.

 

@RigginsTaco , do it right or it will cost you a fortune in the near future

 

Anyone run into this same issue as OP here, and if so, what did you do? Exact same thing happened to me yesterday and looks like it was caused by corrosion over the years (my truck is an '08). I was thinking of using an extractor bit on it, but didn't know if there is any reason not to go this route? I've heard horror stories of extractor bits breaking off, but this bolt wasn't frozen in there, just stiff while unscrewing.

Any input it is appreciated. Thanks.

 

If you can get the old bolt out, that would be the cleanest looking repair. If you really look at it, as stock it’s a pretty crappy ground. Current will flow cable terminal, bolt, bolt hole threads, sheet metal. It would be better if it went terminal, directly to sheet metal. It wouldn’t look pretty but I would scrape off the paint on the sheet metal under the terminal. Then however you reattached it would be an improvement. Ideally something that won’t come loose from engine vibration. I had a ground pigtail wire come loose, utilized an existing bolt hole cleaning paint off first, soldered on a terminal, then attached. The bolt hole was iffy, so I was able to get a nut on the back side.

 

Silly question but is the hole open on the other side? Would you be able to thread it through, chase the threads and put in a new bolt?

 

Funny you mention that about the ground path as I was thinking/wondering the same thing. I haven't looked at it closer yet, but is it some type of captivated nut plate that is riveted on the backside of the sheet metal or exactly what type of threaded element is behind there? If it really is using the threads-to-sheet metal as the grounding path, then I agree that a face-to-face bond between the terminal and sheet metal would seem to be more ideal (afterwards overcoat with paint for corrosion protection).

 

x2 ↑ That's what I'd try.

 

Not sure if it's a thru hole or not (I would think it'd be one) as I was sort of asking the same thing in my reply to @Waasheem earlier in what type of nut/threaded feature is on the backside. I'm assuming you're alluding to what @HawkShot99 was talking about in his message? Anyone here know for sure if it can be accessed this way through the backside?

 

It appears most of the gentleman that replied to help you are unfortunately insane.

Your truck will not catch on fire, explode, self-destruct, or anything else. Drive it like you stole it and fix it right when you have time. You've received great advice already on how to fix it properly but another alternative is to drill the busted bolt out or drill a new hole and use a bolt and a nut on the backside. Using a sheet metal self tapping screw is just useless in sheet metal.that is that thin.

 

Just drill another hole that will allow the captive part to function and install a RivNut, problem solved in a factor like fashion.

 

I’d change the title from “help”, it usually means stuck..
Plus you got it figured out.

just sayin.

 

I'm not the OP. I just resurrected a few year old thread dealing with the same issue. In hindsight I should've started a new thread and just referenced/linked this one in there.