76 Chopokee

While replacing my hatch shocks, the left (driver's side) ball end joint busted right off. The end of the ball broke off, leaving a narrow stud. The hatch shock stayed in place on the stud for a few days but now pops off when I close the hatch. Since these are supposed to bolt in using a torx bit, I don't see a way to back the thing out and replace it. Vice grips won't grab onto the stud. Has anyone faced this before?

Pelican

Can you cut a slot in it with a Dremel and use a screwdriver? Or drill a hole and use an extractor bit?

JDHDrum

Pics of the problem would be helpful.

hbracing13

That's the only way really your going to get it out. Oh and be prepared to cut the side of the pillar in case it decides to break the weld and spin. I had to that to both sides on mine.

Firestorm500

He probably wishes he never would have started this.

76 Chopokee

Here's the picture. I guess I'll try cutting a slot and seeing if that does anything (after soaking in PB blaster for a few days). It's still a big improvement with only one hatch shock functioning, but I'd like it to stay open without my help

XJPat

I think everyone on this forum has thought that at some point.
If you have access to a welder you could weld a small bolt to that broken piece, but I would try the cutting a slot method first.

southsidecatac

Did you try clamping the vise grips nose first with the tips of the jaws? You may be able to grab enough of it to spin it out of there. Wait for the PB to do its job first.

hbracing13

Take off the plastic panel its a lot easier to grab without that in the way.

Firestorm500

Yeah you might be able to get a better bite on the base of the stud with the trim panel off.

redindian

Mine busted like that and then the nut on the backside broke free and kept spinning when I tried to remove the stud.

I took a drill bit at an angle and drilled into the nut and left the bit in it.

I could remove the broken stud then and fish a new nut behind there to hold the new stud.

Good luck

DFlintstone

It can be done with an extractor, (easy out). I waz so jazzed it worked I left it on the easy out until I needed to use it for something else! I didn't have a dremmel to make a flat spot to drill from, I forget what I used. A grinding wheel on a drill might do it.

Later, at some point on the other side, the nut spun. This is a bit nuts, but with the plastic off I plunge cut from the side with an angle grinder, just such that I could get a small needle-nose vice-grip through the slot to hold the nut. It looks fine with the trim back, but the structure there is compromised.

I looked again at your pic. Looks like you could just make a small dimple with a center punch, drill it maybe 5/32, then get after it with an extractor. Make sure you drill it deep enough, or clean through. A minute after you stop drilling the nut will be pretty warm, setting the easy out will cool the screw some....

It's about 5/16, the stud. (doubt it's 8mm)