3 snapped bits, 1 snapped extractor

[Jack Olsen]

My mechanical skills are rudimentary, but I got the sucker out.



(Right before the trip to Dunkel's I snagged a concrete section of my driveway apron and sheared off the bolt that holds the front condenser guard and also the impact shield for the suspension A-arm.)

[Jim Richards]

Great DiY, Jack...next thing you know it'll be engine rebuilds.

[Early_S_Man]

Congrats, Jack on persistance, and prevailing!!!

Sometimes ... the number of bits broken, or trips to the store for more tools, etc. isn't the important thing, just that you repaired it yourself! I wouldn't call your skill rudimentary!

[JMPRO]

Jack, you need a pair of these under your front end
Jerry

[Cornpanzer]

Nice job Jack. I know quite a few very skilled mechanics that dont have the patience to deal with a bolt like that. Patience and common sense will often prevail over skill! =)

[ischmitz]

Jack,

way to go. Can you imagine how I felt when I banged up my alternator shaft on the 2.7 trying to get the fan off a couple of years ago. Duuh I felt so stupid I wanted to cry. And now I am in the final stretch to button up the 3.6 with some major help from a mutual friend.

Still, just attack them as they come and you'll get better in the process. That part of the fun, at least for me.

Ingo

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks, guys. The thousand-mile journey begins with single steps.

The problem is, nothing ever breaks on my car.

Jerry, you're right. I do need those. Do you make them?

[Zeke]

You musta felt that jolt to break that. I had forgotten how easy it is to hit the lower front in a 911. Hadn't done that in a while and I drove up to a bunch of guys standing at the end of a driveway to show them my car and....WHAM! Of course, I felt so cool after that, I just wanted to go home.

[Superman]

Congratulations, Jack. Jack's humble presentation reminds me of one of my favorite movie lines. It's when Shirley McLane looks as Jeff whats-his-name in Terms if Endearment and says "Flap, your one redeeming quality has always been that you understood your limitations. Don't lose that fine quality now that you need it the most."

That always cracks me up. Seriously though, removing a broken screw or bolt is hands down one of the toughest repair jobs I have seen or done. Congratulations, Jack. Your humility is charming but we're not buying the "rudimentary" thing.

[surflvr911sc]

Not bad for a "soft-boned momma's boy who's never even changed the oil on his own car."

I hate broken screws, removing them is an accomplishment for anyone that doesn’t do it on a regular basis.

[vash]

you know what i would do? i would finish drilling a hole through that little bastard, clean it up and run a chain through it and wear it as a good look charm. i wanted to do that with my shift shaft seal when i removed that leaky bastard with the tranny still in the car. but a nasty torn up rubber seal, is just that... nasty. good job jack. funny how you can drive balls to the wall on the track and twisty road, and hit a bump in the driveway.

[thrown_hammer]

My front torsion bar adjuster snapped off clean on my '75. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!! I feel your pain AND sense of accomplishment.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
Jerry, you're right. I do need those. Do you make them?

yeah really.. that seems like a great mod

[JMPRO]

I have been kinda looking into what it would take to get them made but they are one of my "Jerry" ideas as my wife calls them and not sure any one else would appreciate the function and use. I just got tired of that look people gave me every time i made that scraping metal sound every time i went in and out of a driveway.
Jerry

[Chuck Moreland]

Actually looks like a pretty good idea Jerry.

That wheel looks like it has had a workout too.

[Jdub]

Jerry:

What's especially nice about your setup is it allows you to easily preload the A-arm against the crossmember when refitting the arm. Typically when the front suspension is rebuilt you put the cover on and there is no way to push on the end of the A arm to ensure a snug fit.

I ended up filing off the bent tow loops on mine. I hope to God I don't need a tow anytime soon!

John

[rpiper]

Jerry, I could use a set of those. Great idea & execution. Care to elaborate on the fab?

[JMPRO]

The bases were cnc laser cut out of 3/16" steel, i was having some other stuff made and had the guy do a quick run on 2 of these. The wheels are boat trailer v- runners that i cut in half to make two wheels. The wheels are urathane , i found this is the best material as rubber wears out too fast and any hard material wheels have to habit of shattering when encountering a driveway. I have actually revised the design to be able to make it a little cheaper and so you could easly remove the wheels to use the bracket as a tow hook. Its funny , i originally put these on because the way my garage is set up i have to back in so i can more easly get in and out of the car and backing into the driveway seems to cause more scraping than nose first.
Jerry
Jerry

[Joeaksa]

Jack,

Next time you are trying to get a broken bolt out, contact a Snap-On tool guy and get a set of reverse twist drill bits. They cut turning counter clockwise and as such try to unscrew any bolt out while drilling. The vibration and heat almost always end up backing the bolt out while you are drilling.

Much easier than any extractor!

Joe A