Removing Bumper Bolts

On my 65 LeSabre there are two bolts, one on each side of the front bumper, that go from the bumper through the fender. I think they are carriage style, that they have a small square piece right under the head of the bolt. Well whatever the design, my problem is that in trying to remove them one started to loosen but now just spins. These bolts are smooth chrome on top so no screwdriver or socket will work to hold them. Any advice on how to remove them?

 

I'd like some good non distructive ideas to this problem cause mine arn't :laugh:

Don't try any of these unless you can live with getting a new nut, bolt or getting the bumper repaired.

Heat the nut before removal. (looks like it's to late for this one)
Tack the head of the bolt to the bumper. (not advisable)
Weld a nut to the head of the bolt. (can blue the chrome on the bumper)
Hack saw the nut off. (this is hard)
Blow off the head of the bolt with a torch. (very destructive)

"I've done them all"

Ok funs over, now for a resonable solution.

If you can get a new nut and bolt and can get at the nut.

Take a drill same size as the bolt shank / thread. Drill through the flat part of the nut from the side. Center punch the side of the nut first. The drill being the same size drills away the bolt and the nut / bolt end pops off.
I've used this also for removing stubborn top shock nuts were you don't want to light a torch.

For a larger size bolt I'd drill a pilot hole first.

Bruce

 

I like your list Bruce. I did the hacksaw the bolt off - must have lost a few pounds in sweat doing so. Another bolt refused to come off my rear bumper so I just removed the whole bracket the bolt was attached to and sold the brackets with the bumper (luckily I had another set!)

 

Are you sure these bolts go thru the fender? I kinda remember you can remove the bumper at the frame horns and the bolts you are concerned about go only thru a brace plate, easier dealt with once the bumper is off the car.
John

 

If they are carriage style, and most bumper bolts I've seen are, then try the following.

1. Find a friend
2. Have friend hold out thumb.
3. Put thumb on bolt head and push.
4. Continue loosening from backside.

 

So, are you saying to drill the bolt in from the end, or drill the nut in from the side?

 

Grinder with a cutoff wheel. Once they are rounded off they will just spin no matter how hard you push in. They are ruined anyway. The originals are grade 5 carriage head bolts. They are tough to find. I found a few sources.

 

If you can carefully grind the chrome off the head of the bolt, center a nut on the head, and then fill the inside of the nut with weld, then put a wrench on it and try to remove it. If you wled it slowly ( tack weld a little at a time) it should keep from discoloring the chrome on the bumper.

-Josh

 

Oil the threads, and place a small flat thin pry bar under the head of the bolt and apply pressure to keep it from spinning, and see if that does the trick - if the bolt is loosened enough you might be able to apply vice-grip pliers to the head of the bolt to keep it from turning, but the bolt will be toast. o No:
Pre-soaking the bolt threads, with a good quality penetrating oil, prior to removal may also help. :TU:

 

If the head of the bolt is exposed, use a small cutoff wheel on a dremel tool and cut a slot into the bolt head, then use a straight blade screwdriver to hold the head while you turn the nut on the backside. Just be careful with the chrome bumper. Surround the bolt head with a couple of layers of heavy tape on the bumper so if the cutting wheel takes off you won't damage the chrome. Good luck!

 

I've drilled the nut from the side with a bit the same size or just abit smaller than the thread diameter of the bolt.
All these suggestions are good, it's finding the one that works with the least amount of aggravation and damage.
I'm in Ontario everything I work on is rusty and seized on :laugh:

THanks Bruce

 

There are brackets that go from the frame to the bumper in the front, but I'm pretty sure that these go through the fender on the sides. The bumper is bent already and I don't know if it is possible to get it straightened, but I figured it would probably be cheaper than trying to get a new one. I'd like to get the front end off before its gets really cold, and I think this is the only thing holding me up. Thanks for the advice, now to see which method I have to use. ray:

 

u need to purchase a nut breaker tool.

 

Yeah, you were right. Just had to take off the frame mounts and the bumper came off. Got the front end off. Now I just need to clean out the garage and get the car in. I think cleaning the garage will be more involved than removing the front end.

 

In situations like removing seized nuts,bolts screws ect.... a dremel tool with the fabric abrasive wheels is hard to beat:Brow: :Brow:

 

What Gerry said, a nut breaker tool. I think sears sells them. I bought one for use in the local u-pull-it salvage yards. The won't let you use torch for fear of fire.

 

I had a Dremel, be darned if I can find it now, nice cordless one, kinda pissing me off. And a 4-1/2" grinder works well too. Had to use that to get the body mount bolts out from in front by the radiator. Dang things were rusted to s**t but still couldnt do anything but grind em off. I take that back. One actually started turning, but broke off soon after. The other had become one peice so it got the grinder.

 

Using a air powered cut off tool on the nut would work best. You could also put a deep socket that just fits over the threaded part of the bolt and use this a drill guide and drill the bolt to weaken and break it off. Stay away from using heat unless you are knowledgable about heat tranfer and metal ticknesses, AL.