sheared balljoint pinch bolt

[Bosco]

Well, the topic says it. I sheared it right off. never even budged before breaking. I wonder how safe it is to still drive it for a bit. It is broken off prefectly flush.

[All_talk]

Well it cant get out with the bolt shank still in there, but it wont hold tight, in a short time it could wreck the socket, I wouldn't go far on it.

If its that stuck I doubt you'll have much luck with an "easy out" or the like, I'd drill it through and use a bolt and nut until I could replace the spindle.

Gary

[greg donovan]

i suggest getting a "new" spindle from a pick'n pull. save yourself a lot of trouble.

[Bosco]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I'll probably do just that... (spindle from JY)

[Bosco]

Well, after I posted my last reply, I realized that I have a spare spindle in my spare parts pile...
The balljoint itself was good on that one, but the threads on the end of it were mashed, so I decided I needed to take out that balljoint and put a new one in.
I stuck it in a vice, heated up the area with a torch and proceeded to shear the head right off that one too!!! I friggin suck!

How the hell does anyone ever get those bolts out? I'm 0 for 2 so far and about to give up completely.

well, I'm off to the parts shed now to beg for a spindle with either a good balljoint in it, or none at all.

[vrg3]

This may be a dumb question, but did you soak it with PB Blaster, let it sit, tap on it with a hammer, let it sit, and then try to break it loose?

[Bosco]

This may be a dumb question, but did you soak it with PB Blaster, let it sit, tap on it with a hammer, let it sit, and then try to break it loose?

Err.. Not exactly . I soaked it once with some "liquid wrench", but no hammering and no letting it sit for an extended period.
Guess I learned the hard way....Twice

[vrg3]

D'oh... Well, it's not a cure-all, but give it a shot the next time around (if you decide to allow a next time). I've seen PB Blaster do amazing things, especially when you do these things to help it do its job.

[All_talk]

I feel for you guys back in the rust belt, I've never had a problem with any of the bolts on the spindle on any of my Subes, just rat-a-tat-tat with the air wrench and out they come. Once there out I sugjest you lube them up with Anti-Seize, I use the stuff everywhere, really saves your ass the next time your in there (and sooner or later you will be back in there).

Gary