[Tires & Wheels] Snapped Wheel Bolt

[Squad]

Hi, does anyone know the best way to get a snapped wheel bolt out?
I would be most grateful for any suggestions. Thanks

[Sol]

Depends how much is left sticking out of the disc. If it's enough, you can get a stilson on it and get a good grip on the remains, or weld a nut onto the end and use a socket.

[Squad]

Depends how much is left sticking out of the disc. If it's enough, you can get a stilson on it and get a good grip on the remains, or weld a nut onto the end and use a socket.

Hi Zion,
This is what came off and the rest is still in there.

[Sol]

Should be enough left to either weld a nut onto or get hold of with a small stilson wrench, maybe even a plumbers basin wrench, when used right they bite down very hard and can loosen the broken stud. Lots of good penetrant like plus-gas (not so much wd40 but any good rust penetrator)

There are sockets called gator grips but they only work on things that are not round. You need a device that gets tighter as you turn, little stilson wrenches or basin wrenches can be had from Screwfix (cheaper than b&q and same company)

Hold the jaw of the basin wrench on and turn till it bites, then put steady pressure on till it releases.

Must say, I've never seen a factory wheel bolt snap personally. Must have been done up crazy tight. But with the head off, there's no pressure on it now, only rust in the threads holding it in.

If you can't get it out, you can try a blowtorch to heat it but have to be careful around the hub bearing and brake parts. You could melt all the grease out of the hub.

The bolt passes through the brake disc into the hub, you may need to remove the caliper and brake disc to get more exposed thread to work on. Holding it still would then be awkward. At least with the brakes working, you can use a baton jammed between the seat and the brake pedal to lock the front wheel. Putting it in gear alone is not good, the diff will let the other wheel turn and you can knock the car off the jack or at best not get much purchase before it rotates on you.

If available, I'd weld on a nut and use an air ratchet or rattle gun to get it loose.

[cancunia]

Did it snap on the way in, or on the way out? Wheel bolts are high tensile steel so snapping them is a bit unusual, as noted above. Maybe the wheel was loose? If you can get to the back of the bolt via the drum, you might be able to remove it with a drill.
In any case, depending on why it snapped, I'd be tempted to change all 4 bolts once you get it sorted.

[Squad]

Did it snap on the way in, or on the way out? Wheel bolts are high tensile steel so snapping them is a bit unusual, as noted above. Maybe the wheel was loose? If you can get to the back of the bolt via the drum, you might be able to remove it with a drill.
In any case, depending on why it snapped, I'd be tempted to change all 4 bolts once you get it sorted.

It snapped on a tyre change putting the bolt in.

[hawkeyefxr]

The idea of a welded nut is the best the reason being is that when the nut is welded to the broken stud the intense heat causes the brake drum/disc to expand the hole.
I would suggest using a spanner over stilsons as they are muller tools (sorry you plumbers out there)

[Sol]

Have to agree on Stilsons being a butchery tool - but on a round snapped stud, with no welding gear it would beat a mole grip

I find basin wrenches to grip even better and not be too hard to get into tight spaces...(I'm a spark, so don't have many plumbing tools but that wrench is a thing of beauty in a tight spot)

https://www.screwfix.com/p/basin-wrench-...lsrc=aw.ds

[Pedronicus]

Did it snap on the way in, or on the way out? Wheel bolts are high tensile steel so snapping them is a bit unusual, as noted above. Maybe the wheel was loose? If you can get to the back of the bolt via the drum, you might be able to remove it with a drill.
In any case, depending on why it snapped, I'd be tempted to change all 4 bolts once you get it sorted.

It snapped on a tyre change putting the bolt in.

DIY or at a tyre place?

TBH i would not have thought DIY would have snapped a bolt unless you had a 10ft scaffold pole on the end of the wrench!

[Squad]

Did it snap on the way in, or on the way out? Wheel bolts are high tensile steel so snapping them is a bit unusual, as noted above. Maybe the wheel was loose? If you can get to the back of the bolt via the drum, you might be able to remove it with a drill.
In any case, depending on why it snapped, I'd be tempted to change all 4 bolts once you get it sorted.

It snapped on a tyre change putting the bolt in.

DIY or at a tyre place?

TBH i would not have thought DIY would have snapped a bolt unless you had a 10ft scaffold pole on the end of the wrench!

a tyre place