andrwef844

the front leaf spring bolt i was able to get out about half an inch then it broke... i was able to wiggle and pry the leaf spring out and now have the remaining half of the bolt stickin out about an inch... i put some vise grips on it and some heat and pb blaster and it still wont tighten or loosen..... any suggestions would be nice.... i thought about drillin it out and tappin it but i dont even know how i would get a drill bit in there straight on.... do i need to just beat it with a hammer and break the welded nut off and then cut an access hole to drop a new nut in?

4.3L XJ

If nothing else works, that is what yo will have to do. What a pain huh?

Mike1998XJ

Wow, how did you get the leaf spring off if there is still an inch of bolt sticking out... You gotta post a picture of your situation! Do you have a grinder? You could grind a couple of flats on the broken bolt so you can grab it easier. Or you could buy one of those broken bolt extractors at Sears, pound it on and see if you can get it off that way. Do you have air and an impact? You are lucky to have an inch sticking out so I wouldnt give up on it yet.
Mike

andrwef844

this is what i got to work with...

Mike1998XJ

Wow, you really did get that spring off around that bolt. I wouldn't have believed it if you hadn't posted a picture.
The good news is you have a lot to work with there. I would try the other things that have been recommended before I drilled that out and retapped. Can you borrow one of those bolt extractors or buy one at Sears? Those an extension and an Impact gun can do wonders. Do you have an impact? Keep blasting it with your PB to break the rust bond.
If that didn't work I'd try a small pipe wrench with a piece of pipe on it. Try threading it back in a 1/2 turn then coming back out. Take your time, be creative and you will get it.
Mine broke too and I got it out. Then I ran an M14x2.0 tap in to clean the threads up.
Mike

andrwef844

today i picked up a new bolt from the dealer and a set of stud extractors from sears but they just seemed to slowly strip the remaining threads off more.... so i guess tomorrow get a pipe wrench and try that .... if that doesnt work ill try welding a nut on the end... and then im out of ideas if that dont work...

Mike1998XJ

Did you really hammer that stud extractor on? If you hammer them on and use an impact gun you chances for success go up? Press into the broken stud hard on the impact gun so the extractor remains engaged. If that doesn't work the nut welded on sounds good!