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Help - broken bolts on steering mount  
dwajeeper
New User | Posts: 6 | Joined: 03/06
Posted: 06/12/06
07:31 PM

1985 CJ7 - steering box bracket is mounted to frame and the nuts are inside the frame. I just now twisted the heads offf two of them !!(despite soaking them penetrating oil). I am at a loss as to what to do.  I was planning to replace the box and go to a heavy duty mount.  I have had little luck with EZ-outs, and in this case there is still about 1 inch of bolt sticking up through the nut inside the frame on each broken bolt. There is only one  access hole throough the frame in that area about size of a quarter.  Does any one know how to deal with this?   Thanks.


 

 

 
chuckwoolworth
User | Posts: 91 | Joined: 01/06
Posted: 06/14/06
07:40 AM

sears is selling a bolt removing bit for removing bolts with botched up heads. Perhaps this can be used to drive the stub the other way? Drill it out?  


 
dwajeeper
New User | Posts: 6 | Joined: 03/06
Posted: 06/18/06
07:20 PM

Good idea!..you have helped me to recall the add I saw on TV about this kit from sears..I'll check it out.  But one guy insists I won't be able to drill the 2" length of that hardened bolt & keep it cenetered because drill bit will tend to drift off the hardenened bolt into softer surrounding metal of frame. Also, i will have to take the leaf spring off to get drilling acces...the broken bolts are directly overhead.


 Here is another option a guy suggests:


1.  Cut an access panel in side of frame to expose all 3 steering mount bolts (use sawzall or hole saw). Take a cold chisel to them and break/cut loose the welded nuts from the frame, then pull them out along with busted bolts inside them. Use new bolts and lock washers to attach steering box but don't weld nuts back to frame this time. Then have someone weld a cover back over the access pane (I don't weld).


And also:


2. Get someone with a cutting torch to cut an access pane,  then cut the nuts out.


I haven't decided how to go about this yet...want to study on it a bit because if if I screw  up the 3 mount holes for steering box in that part of frame - seems like I have a pretty bad situation. Any more thoughts or opinions?  Thanks again!!!

 

 
retired
User | Posts: 223 | Joined: 04/06
Posted: 06/19/06
06:09 PM

Dump the factory mount and purchase a heavy duty after market one. I cut the acess hole in my frame and did not cover it up with a plate. That way you can acess the nuts to check the tightness every once and a while.   


 
dannyboy817
New User | Posts: 6 | Joined: 06/06
Posted: 06/23/06
03:00 PM

if you don't want to cut into your frame you can get to the bolts from the front of the frame, and use an air hammer to knock the what ever is left from the bolt/ nut and weld some new ones in there. a good glob of anti seize helps when you put the new ones in  


 
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