Broken Lug Bolt, S70, 1998

[ezztravels]

Hi all,

Would like to start buy saying what a great site this is and a wealth of information. Bought my first volvo at Xmas due to totaling my Honda, (great excuse to finally get a Volvo.) I have found all kinds of useful info in regards of DIY repairs and the likes.

To the point : I had to repalce my front flex-break line due to one of them breaking. When taking off one of my front wheels the lugs where on so tight that I had to heat them with a propane torch to loosen them up. Well I only figured that out after I broke the first one.

Broke it while using a breaker bar. Not the smartest of ideas, but hey I learned something out of it.

After a few hours of research on the web figured that I didn't want to spend money on a new hub or a mechanic.

A quick trip to Canadian Tire for some PB Blaster and a #3 screw extractor.

Sprayed the broken lug with PB Blaster the night before I planned to do the work.

Morning after drove to my brother house to use his garage. Jacked the car and gave the lug a couple of good whacks with a nail punch and hammer.
The bolt was loose. I then drilled it with a 5/32" bit about half way down. Was careful to keep cooling my bit with water to prevent it from overheating and breaking.

Turn out I didn't even need the extractor as I tapped my nail punch into the drilled hole and unscrewed it by hand.

Must say PB Blaster is awesome and would recommend it to all if you don't know about it. I used a Liquid Gunk and it doesn't even come close to the efficacy that PB does.

Hope this helps out anybody who may encounter the same problem.

[MadeInJapan]

Welcome to MVS, and thanks for the good info!

[OBrien]

Fyi for getting out broken lug bolts. Aside from obvious cautions about flames around the car, keep in mind about heating up the wheel and anything else nearby in the process. Although have used "easy-out" extractors in the past, found that when the heads break off, the load is gone from the shaft that stays in the hole (assuming of course no rust going on in there). Depending on how it broke, there's often a little ridge or edge that you can push on counterclockwise with an awl or punch and slowy back the thing out until you can grab it with pliers. While extremely slow, it was completely "non-invasive" and was able to get 3 out in under 30 minutes.

p.s. about using penetrants - while you may have no choice, try to get it all out of there afterward, else the spinning wheel can throw it all over the brakes, etc (ask me how I learned that!)

97 850 GLT estate, 100k
89 240 DL estate, 166k
88 740 GLE salon, 175k

[Sperry]

I currently have a broken McGard lug bolt, with nothing to grab.

I asked the guy rotating my tires, "The manufacturer says to use hand tools taking these off". He paid no attention.

The national chain wants me to price it's removal by Volvo.

Bummer if I get a front right blowout, because that wheel isn't going anywhere.