Bolt Snapping Drive Flange

[manic]

Goal = Strip down the axle for blast and paint

All flange bolts on driver side had been loosened without issue. Passenger side went OK until two bolts sheared . See Pic. When they resisted I took my time with them - had them glowing red, used an impact driver, soaked in penetrating fluid. In the end the bolts were too tired.

The flanges need to be replaced. Any ideas for best course of action?

[steveG]

Remove the other bolts, remove the flange then use vice grips on the remains of the shesred bolts.

Steve

[manic]

Remove the other bolts, remove the flange then use vice grips on the remains of the shesred bolts.

Steve

Ah of course, I was thinking there was a thread through the flange... good news that . I dare say i would have found that out had I not packed up at point of failure... Nice 1

[uninformed]

Heating them would make them expand and only tighter. Maybe a heat and quench with water??? May also not be a good idea??? What about a punch and hammer to give them some actual inward impact rather than just the rotational impact of an air gun....

[manic]

Heating them would make them expand and only tighter. Maybe a heat and quench with water??? May also not be a good idea??? What about a punch and hammer to give them some actual inward impact rather than just the rotational impact of an air gun....

My method for stubborn bolts has had some success recently - thought I was onto a winner.

I heat with butane and cool with pen-fluid - do this a few times.
Hammer on an impact wrench for rotational shocking.
Hammer a Drift on the bolt head for inward shocking.
Let it sit overnight.
Try again.
All else fails I increase leverage and risk bolt shear.

[jimr1]

My method for stubborn bolts has had some success recently - thought I was onto a winner.

I heat with butane and cool with pen-fluid - do this a few times.
Hammer on an impact wrench for rotational shocking.
Hammer a Drift on the bolt head for inward shocking.
Let it sit overnight.
Try again.
All else fails I increase leverage and risk bolt shear.

A good quality ring spaner should undo those bolts , they were probly put in to tight and streached , that would weeken them . If they sheer take the hub off, then as Steve said use vice grips or if you have access to a small 10inch Stilson they will take the bolts out , If they snap at the hub they will have to be drilled out , good luck ..jimr1 ..

[fonfe]

Don't use vice grips. Use a quality stud extractor from snap on/mac tools etc.
and use worth rost off ice -I swear by the stuff.

[manic]

Don't use vice grips. Use a quality stud extractor from snap on/mac tools etc.
and use worth rost off ice -I swear by the stuff.

Where do you get
'Wurth Rost Off Ice'
?

[wrinklearthur]

It's fairly easy to replace the hub with another second hand one, but don't use any thread lock on the flange bolts stronger than screw lock.
.

[manic]

It's fairly easy to replace the hub with another second hand one, but don't use any thread lock on the flange bolts stronger than screw lock.
.

The bolts I removed from passenger side had traces of blue thread lock and instead of a gasket on the flange it was effectively glued on with sealant. Someone set me up!

I have a record of stuffing up parts and then buying replacements to facilitate progress. It doesn't take much for me to declare something as 'stuffed'. I love an excuse to order in shiny and new . The amount of landy parts I've been sending to scrap is a sin! More sweat, less cash from now on.

All going well I'll have the studs out, strip the hub, clean it up, bit of paint, make it look like new