I went to take the lock bolt out of my rear and when it came out it was boke, so part of it is still in the pinion shaft. I wanted to change one of my axle seals because it's leaking a bit, but can't now. Any suggestions on how to get the bolt out? Has this happened to anyone before? Thanks!

 

How much of it is broke off? If the threaded part of the lock bolt came out than you can probably just get a magnet (the kind you buy at auto parts stores that extend) and get it out that way. Good luck!

 

So the whole bolt isn't threaded? I know i got at least 1/2 inch of the bolt out. I'm not sure how much more is in there. I'll try getting a magnet though. Thanks.

 

If I remember correctly, the whole bolt isn't threaded. What kind of rear do you have, a 9-bolt or a 10-bolt?

 

if he has the lock bolt it is a 10 bolt, 9 bolts don't

 

Oh OK. I've never worked on a 9-bolt before so I didn't know. You learn something new everyday .

 

What I did when this happened to me:
Sprayed lots of WD-40 into the hole to 'thin' out any remaining axle oil, then used a small magnetic-tipped screwdriver to turn the rest of the pin out. Keep turning and jiggle it back and forth and it will eventually come out. Just a very little bit of thread was holding it in...

 

My old axle snapped at the first thread below the bolthead... so I got a junkyard axle.

 

I've broken a couple myself, and had quite a few come into the shop already broken, and they always seem to break right where Pete's did......at the very lat thread. Most of the time they'll turn out easy enough.


It helps to move the crosspin back and forth a few times before you try to take the bolt out. Sometimes you need a small hammer to help loosen it up.