Exhaust Bolts

ShocknAwe · 02-01-2015, 04:00 PM

Snapped one of my spring bolts like a champ today. It's been trying to cross thread for a while every time I start it despite getting new ones. Started spinning it in and by the time I realized it had cross threaded it was too late. Tried to back it out and it snapped. Oops.

So now I have the end of one of those spring bolts snapped off on the midpipe. Couldn't get a grip on it to back it out. Heat, PB, hammer, nothing could break it loose. Gonna take it to a shop and have it drilled out.

Has anyone gone to a different axleback-midpipe connection or used different bolts? I'm trying to decide whether to have the shop cut off the flanges and go to a sleeve junction, or just drill out both sides and put in different bolts/nuts.

I'm done messing around with these spring bolts though.

Thanks for the help.

TUN3D · 02-01-2015, 04:13 PM

ShocknAwe > Same happened to me. Those bolts are worthless + the welded nuts on the flange are a horrible design. Anyways, enough with the bitching -- lol. You definitely need to drill it out.

You can go to Home-Depot/Lowes and get yourself a slightly thinner bolt. One that eases thru the stock flange hole/threading. Big washer and nut to go along with that and -- you're money in the bank. You can even use the springs. That's what I did.

ShocknAwe · 02-01-2015, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUN3D

ShocknAwe > Same happened to me. Those bolts are worthless + the welded nuts on the flange are a horrible design. Anyways, enough with the bitching -- lol. You definitely need to drill it out.

You can go to Home-Depot/Lowes and get yourself a slightly thinner bolt. One that eases thru the stock flange hole/threading. Big washer and nut to go along with that and -- you're money in the bank. You can even use the springs. That's what I did.

PERFECT. Will do. Would drill it out myself but didn't have a strong enough bit today (snapped 2 bits before going fuck it mode and trying to hammer it out with a chisel) and now I'm out of time for a week. LOL!

e36addict · 02-01-2015, 11:12 PM

No need to drill out.. One of mine snapped on me, just smack it a few times from the other side with a punch/hammer and you can knock off the whole welded nut assembly super easy. Then just replace it with a regular nut no prob.

ShocknAwe · 02-02-2015, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e36addict

No need to drill out.. One of mine snapped on me, just smack it a few times from the other side with a punch/hammer and you can knock off the whole welded nut assembly super easy. Then just replace it with a regular nut no prob.

Really? I tried that and the welds on that little nut wouldnt break.

MightyMouseTech · 02-02-2015, 07:39 AM

If you heated it up with torches, you have hardened the metal. Will never be able to drill out now.

Snap off the nut and use a new nut with a new spring bolt.

ShocknAwe · 02-06-2015, 10:22 AM

Just wanted to update:

Swapped the spring bolts for yellow zinc plated hex bolts paired with lock nuts. Also used a grip length identical to the length of the stop on the old spring bolts. The springs were swapped to new bolts and are compressed by the same amount as before.

My thanks to TUN3D, e36addict, and MightyMouseTech for their contributions!

gtjosh · 09-22-2016, 12:10 AM

Errr ma gerd this happened to me today. Glad I Googled first to see what other people did. Hopefully it won't take that long and I can be on my way.

02-01-2015, 04:00 PM	#1
ShocknAwe 1Addict 3234 Rep 7,894 Posts Drives: E82 Mutt, M57 Truck Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	Exhaust Bolts Snapped one of my spring bolts like a champ today. It's been trying to cross thread for a while every time I start it despite getting new ones. Started spinning it in and by the time I realized it had cross threaded it was too late. Tried to back it out and it snapped. Oops. So now I have the end of one of those spring bolts snapped off on the midpipe. Couldn't get a grip on it to back it out. Heat, PB, hammer, nothing could break it loose. Gonna take it to a shop and have it drilled out. Has anyone gone to a different axleback-midpipe connection or used different bolts? I'm trying to decide whether to have the shop cut off the flanges and go to a sleeve junction, or just drill out both sides and put in different bolts/nuts. I'm done messing around with these spring bolts though. Thanks for the help. __________________ 2010 135i 6MT Jet Black N54/3 FE82 Mutt \| BUILD THREAD \| GARAGE SALE
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02-01-2015, 04:13 PM	#2
TUN3D Major 193 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: none iTrader: (17)	ShocknAwe > Same happened to me. Those bolts are worthless + the welded nuts on the flange are a horrible design. Anyways, enough with the bitching -- lol. You definitely need to drill it out. You can go to Home-Depot/Lowes and get yourself a slightly thinner bolt. One that eases thru the stock flange hole/threading. Big washer and nut to go along with that and -- you're money in the bank. You can even use the springs. That's what I did. __________________
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02-01-2015, 11:12 PM	#4
e36addict Captain 137 Rep 952 Posts Drives: 2013 X1 35iX Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Tim @ BMW of Dallas iTrader: (5)	No need to drill out.. One of mine snapped on me, just smack it a few times from the other side with a punch/hammer and you can knock off the whole welded nut assembly super easy. Then just replace it with a regular nut no prob. __________________ 13 X1 35iX, 98 Z3 2.8, 01 M Coupe, 96 Z3 1.9 DASC, 95 318ti, 13 smart fortwo
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02-02-2015, 07:39 AM	#6
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	If you heated it up with torches, you have hardened the metal. Will never be able to drill out now. Snap off the nut and use a new nut with a new spring bolt.
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02-06-2015, 10:22 AM	#7
ShocknAwe 1Addict 3234 Rep 7,894 Posts Drives: E82 Mutt, M57 Truck Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	Just wanted to update: Swapped the spring bolts for yellow zinc plated hex bolts paired with lock nuts. Also used a grip length identical to the length of the stop on the old spring bolts. The springs were swapped to new bolts and are compressed by the same amount as before. My thanks to TUN3D, e36addict, and MightyMouseTech for their contributions! __________________ 2010 135i 6MT Jet Black N54/3 FE82 Mutt \| BUILD THREAD \| GARAGE SALE
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09-22-2016, 12:10 AM	#8
gtjosh Private First Class 21 Rep 120 Posts Drives: Silver 2011 135i DCT Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: New Braunfels, TX iTrader: (1)	Errr ma gerd this happened to me today. Glad I Googled first to see what other people did. Hopefully it won't take that long and I can be on my way.
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