Wishbone bolt snapped!

[Arkaig]

I was trying to do my wishbone rear bushes today, and all was going fine until loosening the 18mm bolt that goes through the front of the wishbone and into the console. It seemed to be coming out OK but there was a crack, then I ended up with this:

I have just about stopped flinging sockets about and inventing new swear words.

There's just enough on the remaining bolt to keep the wishbone from coming out, but not enough to be drivable in any way IMO. Before I get it towed to a garage, is there anything worth a shot?

There's way too much left in there to drill out. I'm contemplating using a saw to cut the remainder of the bolt behind the front bush, then once the wishbone is out, using an easy-out on the rest of it. Worth a try? Anything else to give a go?

 

[Badger]

Could try a reverse thread bolt extractor but if you can't, you'll need to get a new console

 

[Chino_UK]

New console. Happened on mine, it's into aluminium so the thread is likely mashed im afraid console is about £70-80, that's what it cost me.

 

[Arkaig]

Expensive day.

I went for powerflex bushes as well for an easier DIY job since they don't need alignment or a fitting tool.

Sheared bolt looks fairly common from looking on VW & Skoda forums, not sure whether to attempt the other side or just dump it at a garage and get them to finish the job.

 

[31satara]

Just done the same. Bolt sheared. Spoke to a friend who is a mechanic and he said it was very common. The Al corrodes, then as the bolt is removed shards start to jam in the thread and it just gets worse until the bolt shears. he said it was not worth the effort of trying to remove/drill/tap etc as it rarely works. Remove console and replace (it's easy to do). ECP was £63 plus £3 for the bolt at TPS. (My mechanic friend could get the genuine parts and poly bush at trade, but that would be about £110 - On a 1.2 with 165k I went for the cheaper!)

 

[Arkaig]

It seems that way. I've thrown in the towel as the bolt is well and truly jammed, and I figured it would be better to keep the wishbone hanging on by the remnants of it (and some tightly wound rope), so that I can get the car on the back of a trailer and to the garage. Otherwise, moving the car with wishbone completely free might damage the track rods / top mount / driveshaft.

If I didn't need the car so quickly I'd have replaced the console myself. Out of curiosity I wonder, would dropping the subframe drastically alter the alignment of the car?

 

[Badger]

It will need tracking when you remove the wishbones and consoles as it involves removing the bottom ball joint etc...