Hi All, 2007 F430: installing S-Line exhaust. Removing the bolts to swap with the exhaust tip hangar. Aluminum bolt + steel rivet nut + over corrosive exhaust = broken bolt Thoughts: 1) drill out bolt, tap the threads with the appropriate M8 if the threads don’t get goobered up 2) if I goober the rivet nut threads, tap it with a larger m10 or something 3) replace the rivet nut -grinding the bottom lip of the rivet nut and pushing it through would be easy. BUT, the rivet nut would be permanently in the frame rattling around…… any ideas to remove the rivet nut and not just push it through into the frame? Image Unavailable, Please Login Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Drill it out, drop it into the frame, ooze some silicone caulk into the hole to keep the darn thing from rattling then replace with a new rivet nut.
#1 -- An Aluminum bolt should be easy to drill out (vs a steel bolt). Use a LH drill bit, if possible.
I would start with a bolt extractor. Drill the hole for the extractor, heat the nut, apply some penetrating oil, and then let it sit for a while. Insert the extractor and see if the bolt can be removed. If it doesn't budge, try heating it again and applying penetrating oil. Be patient; you might need several heating cycles.
That's a pain. Heat and break free, wd40 a few times before you even try an extractor unless already loose. Last think you want is the rivnut to start turning and the broke bolt to hold fast.
PB Blaster is much better than WD40 as a penetrant and better than Liquid Wrench. Will smoke when hot. Use Easy Out to extract broken bolt. Craftsman also made small bolt extractors that dig into drilled bolt in reverse direction.
