Went to remove AC compressor and broke 3 of the 4 mounting bolts. What to do!
11-19-2013, 07:55 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Went to remove AC compressor and broke 3 of the 4 mounting bolts. What to do!
Hi all,
This is more of a question on what to do if you have some really stubborn broken bolts that just don't want to be removed. When removing my AC compressor, I managed to break 3 of the 4 mounting bolts. I took a propane torch to the studs in the mounting bracket and figured a little heat would go a long way but these suckers still won't budge! I heated them until they were glowing at the base too. There's enough stud left that I can get vice grips on them. I've also hosed them down with liquid wrench but I'm getting nothing.
I'm really not sure what else to try except for looking for a new mounting bracket but I'm sure that won't be an easy task. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
This is more of a question on what to do if you have some really stubborn broken bolts that just don't want to be removed. When removing my AC compressor, I managed to break 3 of the 4 mounting bolts. I took a propane torch to the studs in the mounting bracket and figured a little heat would go a long way but these suckers still won't budge! I heated them until they were glowing at the base too. There's enough stud left that I can get vice grips on them. I've also hosed them down with liquid wrench but I'm getting nothing.
I'm really not sure what else to try except for looking for a new mounting bracket but I'm sure that won't be an easy task. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
11-19-2013, 08:54 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Tulsa,Oklahoma
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
if you can reach them you can drill them out, really easy if you have a 90* angle drill.. or even try a long screwdriver and tap them out, I have found nothing beats "impacting" a stubborn bolt to help free it so if you can tap it you'll be able to free it easier...
otherwise you can cut off the bracket and start fresh...
good luck man !!!
otherwise you can cut off the bracket and start fresh...
good luck man !!!
11-19-2013, 09:43 AM
#3
CF Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Canton, MI
Posts: 8,357
Likes: 0
Received 82 Likes
on
67 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
You might want to get a used one off Ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/6000/i.html?...ssories&_rdc=2
I lucked out and bought one for $25 about a year ago. Bearing was still good but I had to Helicoil two out of the four mount bolt holes.
91-95 used the same bracket, part number 53006548.
96-01 were the same, part number 53011002.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/6000/i.html?...ssories&_rdc=2
I lucked out and bought one for $25 about a year ago. Bearing was still good but I had to Helicoil two out of the four mount bolt holes.
91-95 used the same bracket, part number 53006548.
96-01 were the same, part number 53011002.
11-19-2013, 11:44 AM
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Hi Jake,
Sounds good. It's a 96 so the bracket from a 97 will work. I'll let you know if I'm looking to purchase one and we'll go from there. I may try drilling it them out first as the busted bolts are easy to get to.
Sounds good. It's a 96 so the bracket from a 97 will work. I'll let you know if I'm looking to purchase one and we'll go from there. I may try drilling it them out first as the busted bolts are easy to get to.
11-19-2013, 12:07 PM
#6
CF Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Canton, MI
Posts: 8,357
Likes: 0
Received 82 Likes
on
67 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
They are M8-1.25 MM threads.
If you are going to try and drill them out, I would recommend step drilling up to an 8 MM drill, then use the 8.30 MM drill that comes with the kit for the Helicoil.
Bolts are 100 MM long, which you can find at good hardware stores.
11-19-2013, 12:07 PM
#7
Seasoned Member
Trending Topics
11-19-2013, 12:19 PM
#8
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
You'll probably need to Helicoil the bolt holes after drill the bolt stubs out.
They are M8-1.25 MM threads.
If you are going to try and drill them out, I would recommend step drilling up to an 8 MM drill, then use the 8.30 MM drill that comes with the kit for the Helicoil.
Bolts are 100 MM long, which you can find at good hardware stores.
They are M8-1.25 MM threads.
If you are going to try and drill them out, I would recommend step drilling up to an 8 MM drill, then use the 8.30 MM drill that comes with the kit for the Helicoil.
Bolts are 100 MM long, which you can find at good hardware stores.
What kind of bit would I need to drill these guys out? I've never done this before. Something tells me my 18V cordless drill might not cut it either.
11-20-2013, 06:39 AM
#11
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
The A/C compressor bracket hold down bolts often break from being overtightened.
20 ft. lbs is the compressor to bracket torque value. When overtightened and adding corrosion, it takes more quite a bit more initial torque to break a bolt free. (the bolts are a lower grade, if you manage to get a grip on them they will likely break again, unless you have a good oil penetrate)
Rather than liquid wrench try a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone. (preheating the bolt or nut before applying penetrating oil sometimes facilitates wicking the solution into the threads)
Or another type of penetrating oil, each have their own formula(s) as an oil penetrate.
There are other products such as Mouse Milk http://www.mousemilk.com/ (used in the aerospace and other industries)
Use of candle wax sometimes has good results.
Penetrating oils sometimes require up to days of soaking and reapplying.
Basically what the penetrating oil products try to do (including the 50/50 atf/acetone mix) is dissolve any corrosion between the inner and outer threads. While any corrosion is being dissolved, oil tries to wick it way between the threads, applying enough lubrication allowing the bolt to turn.
20 ft. lbs is the compressor to bracket torque value. When overtightened and adding corrosion, it takes more quite a bit more initial torque to break a bolt free. (the bolts are a lower grade, if you manage to get a grip on them they will likely break again, unless you have a good oil penetrate)
Rather than liquid wrench try a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone. (preheating the bolt or nut before applying penetrating oil sometimes facilitates wicking the solution into the threads)
Or another type of penetrating oil, each have their own formula(s) as an oil penetrate.
There are other products such as Mouse Milk http://www.mousemilk.com/ (used in the aerospace and other industries)
Use of candle wax sometimes has good results.
Penetrating oils sometimes require up to days of soaking and reapplying.
Basically what the penetrating oil products try to do (including the 50/50 atf/acetone mix) is dissolve any corrosion between the inner and outer threads. While any corrosion is being dissolved, oil tries to wick it way between the threads, applying enough lubrication allowing the bolt to turn.
11-28-2013, 10:32 PM
#12
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I tried the 50/50 atf/acetone mix and that did not help. more heat didn't make a difference either. these suckers just didn't want to move! I ended up having to tap them out which did work for the most part (3 out of the 4 threaded holes are usable) and the compressor's back on and seems to be held in pretty securely. thanks everyone for the advice. now i have to take the ac compressor off my other cherokee and i'm hoping the bolts don't give me as hard of a time.
11-28-2013, 11:01 PM
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hagerstown, Md
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Glad to hear you got it going. A/C just in time for winter lol. As for the project, Id start soaking those bolts three times daily untill wrench time
11-28-2013, 11:09 PM
#14
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: New Milford, CT
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Same thing happened to me.
I drilled out the old bolts and used threaded rod instead of bolts to hold my AC compressor in place. Just put a washer and a nut on the bottom of the threaded rod, drop the compressor into place and put another washer and nut on and tighten it down.
Has worked wonders for me.
I drilled out the old bolts and used threaded rod instead of bolts to hold my AC compressor in place. Just put a washer and a nut on the bottom of the threaded rod, drop the compressor into place and put another washer and nut on and tighten it down.
Has worked wonders for me.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nicksan
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
28
03-08-2016 11:33 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)