Stripped a bolt on the way out
10-06-2015, 12:01 PM
#1
Stripped a bolt on the way out
How's it even possible??
I was removing side engine mount, two of the three bolts went out fine, didn't have any issues with the first few turns of the third bolt, but then gradually it started to turn more and more difficult, and so eventually I had to really elbow it out.
Net result - the last 1cm of the bolt's thread is packed with aluminum, and I'm afraid the thread in the block is gone too.
Yes, I did realize in the process that the bolt was not coming out the way it was supposed to, but why?? How's it even possible for a bolt to first move and then lock back up? And could I do anything at that point to save the thread?
I was removing side engine mount, two of the three bolts went out fine, didn't have any issues with the first few turns of the third bolt, but then gradually it started to turn more and more difficult, and so eventually I had to really elbow it out.
Net result - the last 1cm of the bolt's thread is packed with aluminum, and I'm afraid the thread in the block is gone too.
Yes, I did realize in the process that the bolt was not coming out the way it was supposed to, but why?? How's it even possible for a bolt to first move and then lock back up? And could I do anything at that point to save the thread?
10-06-2015, 12:11 PM
#3
Nah, the engine was supported with a jack, plus I already removed the actual mount (sitting on the frame), the only remaining piece was the part connecting to the engine block (engine mount "bracket"??). That's where the third (bottom) bolt decided to strip on the way out.
Last edited by eaf; 10-06-2015 at 12:14 PM.
10-07-2015, 11:30 PM
#5
Drifting
might need a tap and die set. It takes finesse and time with one of those. Sometimes rehoning the same size will help clean out the hole. Otherwise if it is messed up then drill out the bad threads and go up 1 size. You will need a bigger bolt though, of course.
10-07-2015, 11:50 PM
#6
Exactly the wrong thing to do. You jack the engine up for 2 reasons, you want penetrating oil to have the best chances to go between thread and chassis so you can jack to sort of break the bond formed over years, or you want to relieve pressure from the mount so you can take it out. You don't jack up to unscrew because unless you're dead under the engine's gravity center, it will lift one side more than the other explaining why you stripped. To be honest, not much you can do except replace bolt and hope the frame has enough thread to hold the engine, or, take metal brush and brake cleaner and scrape the residue off from bolt and hole and hope for the best
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