Rear shock bolt snapped!!

[PP200t]

Whilst undoing my rear shocks the drivers bolt snapped off almost flat with the axle. I have attempted to drill it out, even with a hss drill bit this was useless.
I now have a car that is off the road, and need to get it back working.
Can anyone help me with ideas please, preferably without replacing the rear axle as I wouldn't have a clue!!!

 

[DannyR]

Start drilling with a really small bit and work your way up, eventually when you pull the drill bit out and spin the drill bit in the correct direction it should spin out.

Loads of WD40 soaked on it first too.

 

[PP200t]

I started with a 5mm hss and it didn't even begin to cut in and then snapped in half!!
I must add I'm doing this lay on the floor.
Would welding a bolt or similar on it work? Along with lots of wd40 and heat work? There appears to be some red stuff on the thread so I'm guessing that's some sort of threadlock.

 

[DannyR]

5mm is far too large.

Start with a 2/3mm bit and work your way up.

Drilling will also heat it all up.

 

[scotty10]

Christ, sounds a right nightmare!

 

[PP200t]

It certainly is. It's in the hands of a mechanic who I'm hoping will succeed in drilling it out so I can get it back. Not heard anything yet and man do I miss the car! Would've been quicker and cheaper for me to replace the axle!! Not necessarily easier though as its all the messing with the brake fluid. Fingers crossed.

 

[scotty10]

How much is it costing to drill it out ?

 

[PP200t]

£40 minimum. I've read of people paying £10 and £20 to have It done but my car was pretty much stuck where it was, didn't fancy driving it anywhere. He's a good bloke though so...
Over a barrel sorings to mind. 😧
On a plus note, picked up a bolt almost identical to the original but slightly stronger grade from one of those hidden gems of fastener places, a whole 50p!!

 

[PP200t]

Well I'm yet to pick it up (kids ftl!!) but it's done!! Thank god for that. Don't know how much it cost, that's the worrying bit, but at least it's back, safer than before and I'll be driving it tomorrow!!!

 

[scotty10]

Aye, nothing worse. When i changed mine on the inferno i had, one side was a doddle and the other i had to take it to the garage as i couldn't get the bolt in more than a quarter of the way.

 

[trenace188]

Rear axle isnt to hard to change over . A extra pair of hands makes life 10x easier.

 

[warwickstingray]

Cobalt bits aren't too expensive if you come across hulk steel. A bit brittle so you have to be careful but put two fingers up to hardened nonsense.

 

[PP200t]

I went to screwfix who told me I needed hss drill bits, the bloke who did it used cobalt so that was a fail on my part (screwfix) from the start. Glad it's back now though. Much better apart from a bit of scrubbing at the front on turning hard. Think it's the et40 wheels so need some spacers.

 

[Jackpotts1]

This happened on an old clio I owned absolute pain! I must have went through literally 10 drill bits to get this out!

 

[MrBlonde]

Where did you get a new bolt from mate,as changing my rear shocks & want to change the bolts to.​

 

[Jekyll]

Renault?

 

[bloke]

bolts r us

 

[Gus]

@gambit, @Ceaglestone
We had this exact thing happen on a car we were working on. Absolute nightmare ! Glad we werent the only ones its happened to. We had to replace the rear beam which I luckily had a spare of. We were only trying to swap an exhaust 😂, turned into a two day job.
We ended up getting the bolt from a local tool shop.

 

[gambit]

ah nightmare of a job ! glad its sorted.

 

[jinjur]

Cobalt bits!!

...I did some serious fruiting about with not so cheap HSS bits when i mauled one of the captive nuts in the exhaust bracket. Was getting nowhere apart from ruining bits, even with slow speed, cutting oil.....you name it.

Bought 3mm and 6mm cobalt bits.....again, not so cheap ones.

Drilled slowly and straight.....absolutely demolished the bolt in a minute.
J

 

[RS Charlie]

A lesson for the future for sure.

IMO a nut welded onto the stub of the bolt may also have helped .

 

[Pink-182]

@gambit, @Ceaglestone
We had this exact thing happen on a car we were working on. Absolute nightmare ! Glad we werent the only ones its happened to. We had to replace the rear beam which I luckily had a spare of. We were only trying to swap an exhaust 😂, turned into a two day job.
We ended up getting the bolt from a local tool shop.

Yeah this caused me some stress!

 

[MarcB]

Same issue i had but some WD40 and some heat and mine was out in 10mins.

Now i spray copper grease up there in the rear beam every now and then.