Sheared off bolt (step bar install)

OK vram74 but you gotta report back, with pictures (otherwise it didn't happen)

 

Breaking bolts sucks. I would not use an extractor because they can also break. When they break, they are even worse to remove due to being hardened steel.

I would center punch and drill. Use a small bit and work you way up. Eventually you'll open it up enough to almost fall out. If you are lucky, you can save the threads in the nut. If not, you'll have to tap the hole.

If you can find left handed drill bits, those can be really helpful. They are hard to find in local hardware stores in my experience.

 

If you have a fastenal near you they should have LH bits.

 

If I remember right, they are about 3/4" long. I would try drilling it first. Like others have said, start small and work your way up. Center punch the bolt first so you can start as close to center as possible without your bit walking. I don't think spraying it alone will do anything for you because of the Loctite.
Drill it out as much as possible then soak it for a week. Then give it a shot but be very careful you don't break the extractor. They are damned near impossible to remove once broken.

 

Shame I couldn't just punch a line in it and take it out with a flat head screw driver.

 

If it's stuck tight enough to break it, it's in there better than a screw driver can do.

 

If it does have locktite on it a little heat from a propane torch will break it down.

Since the bolt is already broken, the depth of the drill isn't too important, Just get it deep enough for the extractor to get a good bite. Drill a bit and tap the extractor into the hole and back it out.

It looks like the bracket isn't aligned exactly with the bolt, so you may need to loosen the other brackets so that it will align and have room to come back through the bracket.

 

You don't need a left-handed drill bit. It's counter-intuitive, I know, but a normal drill bit will try to spin the bolt out, left handed will try to tighten it.

 

I managed the same thing when putting mine on....It went in 99% of the way without any effort at all, then got real tight just a little before it was tight enough to hold the step. It made it too far to be cross threaded, so I'm guessing some slag or gunk in the threads and I tried to torque through it. Bad idea.

I was too lazy to get it out, so I had a friend weld a nut in place to hold the step on. I can hit it with a grinder if I ever feel the need to take the side steps off.

 

You sure? If the bit is spinning clockwise and the bolt tightens clockwise....

Is it because the cut in the bit is designed to pull material up during drilling?

 

This is not counter-intuitive, it's just plain wrong.

 

Wrong.

 

No he isn't sure. He is 100% incorrect.

 

Really? I have actually done this before multiple times and never needed a left-handed drill bit. And yes, it is how the bit is designed. That said, either kind of bit will work, just in different ways. I would try what you have on hand first before going out and buying a bunch of stuff you may not need.

 

I've never had a bolt back out using a regular bit and have only had one come out using a left handed bit. Personally, I've always had good luck with an extractor, some penetrating lube, heat, and a hammer drill to get broken bolts out.

 

Once I center punched a broken bolt and started drilling with a right hand drill bit, expecting to use an EZout. As soon as I started drilling, the bolt screwed farther in. I walked 2 blocks and bought a left hand drill bit and spun it right out. Of coarse you need a reversible drill.

 

Not going to argue, but a right handed drill bit will turn the bolt into the threads and screw it further in ( righty tighty ). A left handed drill bit will turn the bolt out of the threads ( lefty loosey ).

I don't care how many times you have "done" it. The above what I posted are the facts... Take it or leave it. I was drilling out bolts when you were pooping yellow.

 

Exactly.

 

I will get a LH’d bit for my cordless hammer drill. Also going to have to borrow a center punch.

Lol, hell I might puss out and leave it, I dunno.

 

Good God man, you're not done with this yet??????

Just bring it by and we'll give it a shot. I'm in southern Illinois.