AC compressor front bolt

pozican · 12-09-2006, 11:24 AM

I can't get the bolt out.

It broke, so the one half without the head is in the compressor, and the other in the engine.

I can see the head and the threads on the other side.
I turn the bolt, and it doesn't thread out.
So it's stripped right?
Well, I can't pull it out, or push it out.

Wierd.

So then I tried prying it out, but I can't get anything in between the bolt and the block.

Vice grips! clamped them on, and pryed the vice grips off. No dice.
So I tried pulling on the vice grips while I was twisting, didn't work.

So next I try pounding on the thread side with a hammer while I'm twisting the head with the rachet.
That did *something*
I can now turn the bolt with my fingers, but it still doesn't thread out at all.

What are my other options?

many944s · 12-09-2006, 06:03 PM

Head to Advance or Autozone. You can find stud/bolt removers that have internal reverse "fangs". you place it over the exposed part of the bolt, give it a nice "tap" with a hammer, and then you have a nice hold on the bolt (actually cuts into stud). You can attach a ratchet wrench to the remover, turn it, and while you are turning pry between the remover and what ever surface is beneath. The more you twist, the stronger it grabs. Has worked for me every time.

Hope it helps!

-Nick

pozican · 12-09-2006, 06:06 PM

ah -- so I would need to cut off the head of the bolt?

many944s · 12-09-2006, 06:14 PM

Oh, sorry.. no. I thought the head was already off. They come in a set of 5 or 7. You can just use a larger remover in the set to bite into the head of the bolt. I have had to do that too when a head had been rounded off. And yup.. It worked there too!

If you need more clarification, I can take a photo of them so you can make sure you get the right ones.

-Nick

many944s · 12-09-2006, 06:24 PM

Had to run to the garage anyway. The 5 sockets in the center of the picture are the removers, you can see the sharp counter threads, one is turned sideways so you can see the profile.

-Nick

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

Hey Nick, I don't think that is the problem. I think the bolt has rubbed a shoulder on it somehow and the shoulder is caught between the two brackets and keeping it from falling out. I can't remember how tight that front tab rubs against the mounting bracket, but you might be able to get a hack saw blade in there and cut the bolt in two. If the bolt is cut, you can then drop the compressor and fix that part...the head will probably fall out at that point. If there is room between the two surfaces, you may try using a die grinder with a cutoff wheel instead of a hack saw. Then you can drill a hole and use an ez-out to extract what is left in the compressor. I have sometimes found that if you can get a screwdriver or some other type prying device under the head of the bolt and pry really hard while you try to unscrew it, that will sometimes work, but it sounds like you may have already tried that. You may want to pull the mounting bracket off the engine (I think there are three bolts plus alternator so unhook your battery) and drop it down where you can work on it. You may then be able to see why the bolt head part isn't falling out.

pozican · 12-10-2006, 08:47 AM

Well this is what is interesting -- The compressor is out, because the bolt snapped.

But I can't get the snapped bolt out of the block.
I can see both ends :\

Zero10 · 12-10-2006, 11:59 AM

IIRC for the front bolt, the hole on the bracket is not threaded and is larger than the threads, so that it clamps the compressor to the bracket.....
Something is definately wrong there, get a flat-head screwdriver under the head of the bolt, and pry it while you turn it. See if it will start to come out.
Otherwise you will have to knock it out with a punch or something.
Never heard of this happening before.

pozican · 12-10-2006, 04:12 PM

So there are no threads on the bracket side of the front bolt?

Interesting, I guess I shouldn't be scared of just straight hammering it out and ruining the threads

Thanks,
-poz

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

The threads are in the compressor. I didn't understand the compressor was already out. Take a file or small sander/grinder and remove any part of the bolt sticking past the mounting block. It should then fall out. or you could pound it out with a hammer but it's probably best to grind off what's holding it in.