lbhskier37 Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Well I just got finished putting in a new left front wheel bearing on my 92 Regal. I guess I really should invest in a torque wrench because I broke off one of the 4 mounting bolts! That is the only one I overtorqued, but I'm not sure what to do. I put it all back together and am hoping to get to a shop to have them extract the bolt and put a new one in, but I guess I have to drive it like it is for a while! How safe do you think it is having only 3 of 4 bolts in there?! Anyone else ever do this? I have to drive it to work and back the next two days at least (40 miles each way) is there enough safety factor to keep my wheel from coming off I hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Well I just got finished putting in a new left front wheel bearing on my 92 Regal. I guess I really should invest in a torque wrench because I broke off one of the 4 mounting bolts! That is the only one I overtorqued, but I'm not sure what to do. I put it all back together and am hoping to get to a shop to have them extract the bolt and put a new one in, but I guess I have to drive it like it is for a while! How safe do you think it is having only 3 of 4 bolts in there?! Anyone else ever do this? I have to drive it to work and back the next two days at least (40 miles each way) is there enough safety factor to keep my wheel from coming off I hope. Doesn't sound safe to me, but I'd never mess with something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 if the other three are torqued down good and tight, you should be fine, but I'd still get it fixed right asap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbhskier37 Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 After sleeping on it and thinking about it I think I can do it myself this weekend. There is about 3/8 of thread sticking out the back of the bearing housing so I should be able to take it off and get a vise grips on that to extract it. Still gonna have to wait til the weekend, I guess I better not hit any curbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdelorie Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Buy a set of EZ-outs. They're left hand threaded screw-like devices. Drill a pilot hole into the broken bolt, then use the EZ-out with a pair of pliers or whatever to back it out. The set costs about 20 bucks, I think, and you'll be glad you have them the next time that happens (and it WILL happen) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbhskier37 Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Well I made it through to the weekend and got the hub back off. The broken bolt came right out. Autozone and Napa didn't have anything and now the GM dealer is closed. Anyone know where I can figure out the p/n to speed it up tomorrow when I go to the dealer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 take one of the good bolts to your local hardware store and see if they have any like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbhskier37 Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 No hardware store had anything like it. Those bolts have this 10mm washer built in and have a really small head for the bolt that size, so they seem pretty specialized. I found a dealer that stocked them, half hour drive, but now I got the parts and can finish the job. Gonna use a torque wrench this time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 i usually take a trip to my local yard before i do jobs like that. I bought the bolts from federated and they told me they were the right ones but i couldnt get the washer off my old ones. just dont overtorque, DO NOT because it will breakw the white metal bearing and you will have to start all over. A mechanic did that to my cutlass and i almost lost the wheel out of nowhere, the only thing holding my DF wheel on was the cv joint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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