How do I use a Tap and Die set?

[doodie]

My car had this broken bolt forever. The head of the bolt snapped off and I can't get it out at all. I'm going to borrow my friend's tap and die set to try to take it out. But how the hell do I use this thing? Besides for the tap and die set. Does anyone else have any idea how to get this thing off? Thanks.

 

[dave99gst]

tap-n-die set wont remove the bolt.
ya need an easy-out -- if that fails then you have to drill the bolt out ( a b itch )
tap-n-die set is for replaces/fixing/creating new threads. Taps are for holes ( Inside diameter ) Dies are for Shafts/rod ( outside diameter )
at any rate, to use a Tap, ya would pre-drill the hole to the required hole size for the size/pitch tap you want to use ( yes each tap uses a diff drill size ) then ya would Thread the Tap into the newly drilled hole ( being sure its totaly perpendicular to the surface ) ya turn it in some-- then back it out some....repete as you go deeper using lube now and then.

 

[Aikouka]

I know all about tapping today as I had to tap the oil send line (that goes to the turbo) on the head and replace the threads. Using a tap and die isn't very hard, but you must be straight or else you'll mess up your threads and you'll have to redrill. When he said you have to turn it in and then turn it back out, you do that to break up the metal shards so they come out easier. Getting those little buggers out is important in some cases (especially when working on the oil line for the turbo ... don't want any aluminum chips going into the turbo's bearings)

And when I was putting on the dirt guard for the transmission, I didn't notice it when it happened (I just thought I lost the bolt) but I broke it off.

And actually, if I think about it, there is a way to take a broken bolt off with a tap and die set, but it's definitely NOT something that's easy to do, and it will not work on small bolts. But if you drill into the bolt, tap it, and put a nut on a bolt that fits into those tapped threads and then thread the bolt on, you can use that inside nut as a way to loosen that broken bolt. It's sorta like double-nutting ... but not .