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Snapped lug bolt...Success...Thanx...

To: alpines@autox.team.net, tigers@autox.team.net
Subject: Snapped lug bolt...Success...Thanx...
From: "Paul R. Breuhan" <prbreuhan@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 11:02:22 -0400
First I want  to thank everyone who emailed me on this. I did get a bolt in 
and I am on the road again. Basically, I went to every auto parts and tool 
store in the area.

Bolts...
I did come up with a lug bolt for an early 1980s GM vehicle which was 
similar in size but slightly shorter so I bought two of them. I used one to 
cut down shorter just in case and left the other as bought. I also ordered a 
couple from Sunbeam Specialties, and those were slightly short than the 
originals on the car. I ended up using the S.S. piece since the base was a 
bit smaller.

Tools...
As expected, I could not come up with a tool off the shelf of any parts/tool 
store, even the import places I visited just scratched them heads and failed 
to come up with anything. The best tool/ information came from the Tigers 
United website.

What I did...
After much looking at the task, I decided that I couldn't fit the bolt in 
with the axle/hub in place.

And there was no place that I could see to drill a hole in the brake backing 
place. The bolt circle for the car is just too small, that the hole would 
have to be right on the axle flange. It just seemed to me that it would not 
work. Anyone who has done this can send me a picture anytime to prove me 
wrong.

I also didn't have a tool to pull the hub. I had a friend come out with 
every tool in his magic bag of tricks, we tried and tried. Before he left we 
were in agreement that a special tool would need to be constructed for hub 
removal.

But, I was able to pull the axle shaft out just far enough (the brake lines 
held it back a bit) that I could wiggle the brake backing plate quite a bit. 
The Sunbeam bolt just about fit through the hole but got hung up near the 
axle. I then filed one edge of the base of the bolt down flat, removing just 
enough material that I was able to get the bolt in the hole. Finally, I just 
used an old nut and pulled the bolt firmly into position.

Future plans...
I hope to go to disk brakes in the rear so I see no way around removing the 
rear hubs. This winter, while I have the time, I plan on constructing a tool 
similar to the one found on the TU website and see if I can get these hubs 
off afterall.

And again thanks for everyone's input...it's always greatly appreciated.

Paul

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