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View Full Version : Frame & Body Bolts keep shearing off... What to do?


PeterBiggerstaff
10-17-2014, 11:11 PM
Hi again all, apologies for so many posts lately, I'm trying to use the forum as a last resort!

I've had to stop work on 10985 because I have a serious problem.. Every single bolt and screw in this car seems to be made of play doh! The heads of most of the screws are very rusted and stripped, and the bolts just sheer off as soon as you apply any pressure at all.

I've soaked bolts in WD-40 before trying to undo them, yet again they just snap with the smallest amount of pressure. I've never sheered a bolt in my life before, and I'm not very strong so I can't figure out what's going on.

I guess if they are all going to sheer, I need a plan on what to do next. I just recently started trying to remove the skirt so I can get the front fender off to replace the loom and I've sheered of both of the bolts I tried to undo.

The screws in the marker lights were so badly stripped there was no hope of getting them out, and I don't think I can get a screw extractor small enough either, so I'm hoping once the fender is off I can get them loose from the other side. If that doesn't work I may have to break the marker light lens, which I'm really trying not to do.

Should I just keep shearing bolts and drill new holes? Should I try screw extractors for the screws? I'm hoping someone else has had similar problems.
DMCMW Dave
10-17-2014, 11:36 PM
Get an acetylene torch. When possible, heating bolts before taking them apart is a miracle. Yes, the bolts on this car are small.
Rich
10-18-2014, 10:54 AM
I've soaked bolts in WD-40 before trying to undo them, yet again they just snap with the smallest amount of pressure.

Try PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench instead of WD. Follow the directions.

Dave's right - heat helps a lot. Be patient. Good luck.
chris williams
10-18-2014, 03:28 PM
Sometimes trying to tighten a little helps before undoing.
Chris
Josh
10-24-2014, 01:41 AM
You cant really heat up the bolts he is referring to.

If it makes you feel any better the rocker panels and marker light bolts are an issue on alot of cars. sertainly were on mine. Other places you will run into trouble are the accesss panels in the trunk and the bolts holding on the front bumper. basically any exterior fastener installed into a riv-nut. The steel bolt in an aluminum rivnut cause anti-galvanic corrosion - seizing them in. Expecially with the rocker panels that have dirt and water constantly thrown at them. I had to drill all mine out.
ALEXAKOS
10-24-2014, 02:08 AM
WD-40 is not really a lubricant to release bolts but a better electrical contacts spray. I use a combination of a torch on the bolts and ice spray lubricant on the screw. Very important to brush the screw after the bold to loose rust residue is removed and does not accumulate while unscrewing.

I have had screws loosen, and then brake off due to that residue.
PeterBiggerstaff
10-24-2014, 10:00 PM
Thanks for the suggestions guys,

I've decided where I can, I'll use screw extractors and vice grips etc, but in the areas where all hope is lost, I'm going to drill new holes and use new rivnuts. I've also discovered JackNuts, which look perfect for areas like the pontoon and soft rubber (front skirt etc).
Kenny_Z
10-24-2014, 10:23 PM
Does WD-40 have a version that is a rust penetrating? I think it's fairly new to the market.

Anything on the bottom side of this car is going to break. Every one of my rocker bolts broke. I ground off the heads of the rivnuts with a dremel and shoved them up into the car. Pulling them out was basically impossible.
PeterBiggerstaff
10-24-2014, 11:18 PM
Does WD-40 have a version that is a rust penetrating? I think it's fairly new to the market.

Anything on the bottom side of this car is going to break. Every one of my rocker bolts broke. I ground off the heads of the rivnuts with a dremel and shoved them up into the car. Pulling them out was basically impossible.

Hi Kenny,

Did you then just drill new holes and use new rivnuts?
Kenny_Z
10-25-2014, 08:16 AM
I didn't have to drill new holes since the existing were already there but I did use new rivnuts. Unless you're going for originality you don't have to use the same metric sized rivnuts as you removed. Especially since the bolts were destroyed too. I can't remember what size I used but I just bought a set of rivnuts and stainless bolts in the same SAE size. I also used antiseize on all of them so if I ever need to remove a rocker again I can without breaking anything.
PeterBiggerstaff
10-25-2014, 02:50 PM
Great info, thanks for that!

I've restored several cars before, but never had this issue, I'm kinda scared of pulling her apart and not being able to get her back together again!