Loose Axle Bracket

[drc1]

The center bearing bracket that holds to axle in place on my front left wheel is loose. The two bolts holding it to the block (right above the oil pan) broke... One is broken flush to the block (the right bolt), and the other is broken half way into the block (the left bolt). The bracket is just dangling down now with no signs of the bolt heads anywhere. I had a friend put it up on a lift and we tried for hours to thread a bolt in the left hole, but it just would not stay... Has anyone even HEARD of this? How can i secure the bracket so the axle won't move... and how could I extract the bolts given the position it is in? Help

 

[Defiant]

They were broken on my '95.

Center-drill and EZ-Out the remnants.

Replace with Grade 8 or better.

 

[drc1]

How would I get a drill in there? Possible a right-angle drill will fit? Also, my father suggested welding the bracket to the block... is this feasible?

 

[drc1]

Also... what would cause both bolts to snap? I recently installed my ACT2600 where I had to remove and reinstall the bracket... so I'm sure the bolts were in there are torqued to spec...

 

[silverbulletAWD]

This is truely a strange phenomenon. I've personally witnessed two cases and counting you and Defiant that makes four that I know of. In one case we spent hours trying to drill it out and ended up getting it w/ one of those snake drills. Don't know were it came from though... In the other case we pulled to motor because my friend was fed up with it (He took out two oil pans out of three times having the bolts either come loose and out or snap.) And he started building a new motor w/ a different block.

I don't understand how this could even happen because if I'm not mistaken when the vehicle is in forward motion the force (if any, which there sould be none at all unless if the bearing is bad) should be pressing against the block.

Andy

 

[drc1]

Yah... well I just burned the bolts out with a torch, retapped the holes, and now it's secured fine. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Both of mine are broke off in the block right now as well....not looking forward to getting them out.

 

[ecstasytsi]

This happened to me once. In my situation, only one of the bolts broke in the block. It sucked because I knew that I torqued them down to the right spec. It turns out the bolt had backed its way out almost all the way. I took a really small drill bit and drilled a small hole at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock into the sheared bolt. Then I took a pick and started tapping the bolt counterclockwise around until in was able to be spun by my fingers. I was very lucky this worked. I replaced both bolts with grade 10.8 bolts with red locktight on them. I also torqued them to 60 ft/lbs.

 

[luecka]

Ok, I've got a '95 TSI AWD and my bracket bolts snapped off as well.

My question is: What's the diameter/length/thread pitch of the bolts?? Honestly I'd rather just go to a hardware store and buy better bolts for it rather than pay for the crappy factory bolts.

I've got all the shop manuals that Chrysler sells for the car, but they just say "bolt" no size or part numbers. Am I missing something?

 

[Phatblackhatch]

I actually have the same problem on my 1g. I found mine amoung several others in a really messed up way. Got a waring ticket for "defective exhaust", anyway put the car ona lift...to put stock exhaust on to pass dmv inspection...noticed...a wierd bracket hanging by the exhaust...and cv joint grease all over the left subframe. 1 bolt seems to have back out...1 sheared in half...on top of that...discovered my clutch pedeal was soft, because the bell housing was cracked and moved a 1/4 inch evey time I pressed the clutch . I was wondering how i would get those out..and what damage it would cause to the tranny....since the axle was free to move as it felt like?..