Bumper to fender bolts

[TuRBoTaLooN]

After taking off the front bumper for the first time to install my FMIC, 3 out of the 4 bolts that hook the bumper to the fenders snapped the head off. I've tried using "ez out" which threads into the stud and then you turn it, but that didn't work. I tried drilling through the bolts, that didn't work. I just wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas. Thanks!

 

[eric91gst]

This happened to me on a couple of bolts. All I did was get a torch and heat them up until there about red hot, then twist the remainder of the bolt out with channel locks

 

[bling5tatus]

^^ if you do that be sure to wear gloves, you don't want to drop a hot bolt on yourself or in your eye or something.... goggles would be good too.

 

[DSMcamaro]

temporary if necessary, drill out the whole and use zip ties. or drill out new holes and use new screws.

 

[TuRBoTaLooN]

temporary if necessary, drill out the whole and use zip ties. or drill out new holes and use new screws.

i had zip ties on as a temporary solution, but i was hoping to fix that this weekend. i can't drill through the studs and i don't have a blow torch to heat up the bolts. any other suggestions??

 

[architechnik]

Are the bolts in there pretty solid or were the heads just rusted?
The first part is getting the things loose. Try some penetrating oil or TB cleaner to dissolve any stuff holding them in there.
Then use a small screwdriver (or awl) and hammer to knock the bolts around a bit to knock them completely loose.
If the bolts are sticking out at all, then some vice grips should work.

If they're down in there, get some of the same size bolts and put a tiny bead of super glue (gorilla glue should work well) and thread it into the hole until it is pressed against the bolt.

If it works as planned backing the bolts out should pull the other out.

Otherwise a tiny tiny drill bit... but that's a whole other procedure.

 

[roadrunner2176]

Just use a good drill bit and drill them out. Buy a 1/4 inch tap, re-thread the remaining bolt head you just drilled through on the fender and install new 1/4 inch bolts. It takes 15 minutes to do all 4, and you have new bolts and no rust to contend with. You could also buy a metric tap if you wanted too.
Otherwise architechnik has some good information. Visegrips work great at removing bolts, but if their stuck you will just round them off or break them off and still end up drilling them out.

 

[Indyxc]

I had the same problem with those bolts. 3 of the 4 snapped off.

I was able to remove them with vice grips through the top. Took a while, but it worked. If that still doesn't work I've found you can usually drill the bolts outs with the size drill for an whatever size tap that is, and retap it. I've used that method in other spots when the vice grip didn't work, and it worked well.

Ez outs, and the rest are garbage. I've never had one successfully work where the back of the bolt is completely rusted. It just leaves you with a broken ez out.

 

[TuRBoTaLooN]

I couldn't drill the bolts out with my old drill, but I did come up with another solution. The bumper has little pieces that line up with the fender in between the bolt holes. I just drilled through that (since it's polyurethane or whatever) and put bolts through and threaded a nut on top from inside the fender. It holds up good and lines up fine. Just wanted to post my solution in case others are in the same situation. Thanks again for all the help fellas.

 

[DSMcamaro]

thats what i was saying. Drill NEW holes.

 

[TuRBoTaLooN]

thats what i was saying. Drill NEW holes.

oh. I thought you meant drill new holes where the bolts were. Thanks for the advice!