Not sure if you mentioned it in the video but it's important to emphasize for a bolt like that to use a class 10.9 or grade 8 nut and bolt. The usual grade 2 or 5 bolts from the hardware store are not made for a critical application like that where if it stretches even a tiny bit it can cause a wreck.

@MrEdb1969

2 жыл бұрын

Dealing with the same situation. You have made an extremely valid point and is what I will put on my Outback, a higher grade bolt. That's why we are all in this situation... because Subaru decided to use cheap bolts on their production line of these vehicles it seems. Why Subaru, why?!?!

I had the exact thing happen but I drill out most of the broken pinch bolt then pulled it out with an RBRT FOR remover. Tapped/cleaned the threads and used a new oem pinch bolt.

From what I've seen of the Subaru ball joint, it has a groove all the way around the socket which is locked in place by the shaft of the pinch bolt. So even with the broken bolt, it was not being held just by rust.

Dude, this is exactly what I'm dealing with on my 2008 Subaru Tribeca. Thank you for this.

@het4326

3 жыл бұрын

No problem buddy! It's a pretty common issue on all Subarus once they get older. Especially if you live in the Rust Belt. Honestly, I'm not sure why they don't just nut them all at the factory. It would probably only be a few bucks extra per unit.

Definitely want to replace those bolts with a thru bolt if I get them out tomorrow, great idea!

What a pain, good job. A quick way to center your drill when the bolt is recessed is to start with a drill diameter that is exactly the same size as the bolt, and drill down about a millimeter. That produces a little cavity exactly in the center, so the first pilot bit will easily self center. It works even if the bolt surface is irregular from snapping off. From there it's just a matter of being exactly true.

i wish i had seen this 2 years ago when i broke the pinch bolt on my 2010 impreza. when attempting to change my control arms. just said screw it, used my aaa to tow it to the shop and let them do it. had i known i could of just used a nut and bolt i would of gone through with this. ive never tapped anything and something this important i didnt want to mess with. Still ended up being cheaper than what i was quoted for control arm replacement. but i learned my lesson.

great video-showed me exactly what I need to do-thank you SO much!

Good shit!!! I have to do this eventually on my forester that’s if I can’t find a knuckle 🙄

Mine was 17 years old. I just bought a new steering knuckle. That fixed it.

@michaelpark5681

2 жыл бұрын

Because of the seized up bolt or just because? Either way no headache lol

@amcrae1

2 жыл бұрын

I just got a used one on ebay for 70

Excellent! This achieves the exact desired result and its a DYI project without fancy tools and with an inexpensive bolt and nut... Come on, how much easier does it get! Great job! 37lb torque and done!

Subscirbed, unfortunately I have to drill mine out too. Thanks for this video!!!!

This helped alot thanks

Going through this on my 2006 Subaru Forester at the moment. Broke an easy out and had to grind that out too. Not a fun process.

That pinch is still there on the 2020-2024 Outbacks lol

This is a great fix, what length bolt did you use for the threw bolt. I'm about to do mine and want to have a bolt on hand just in case things go wrong.

any current updates on the safety and how the car rides from anyone that also did this, OP included?

No safety goggle, no gloves, good job!

@amcrae1

2 жыл бұрын

Are you trolling???? It's great he made the vid

Where do you get the torque specs for the through bolt and nut?

Ok so where do we order this bolt? I want to replace mine for good measure just did lower control arms.

I’m spraying my pinche bolts with penetrant weeks before I even try to remove them. Maybe this way the oil will creep into the threads further. Plus don’t just try to sent it home and take it out in one shot. Loosen it a little then tighten it a little etc.

@DaDaDo661

Ай бұрын

Did you end up breaking it?

If you want to try and fix it, better to fix it than leave it broken. But that bolt is completely rusted in and will hold your ball joint in for at least a while.

Just snapped the head off my pinch bolt and spend 8 hours trying to extract with no luck. How long is the through bolt that you used?

What diameter and length bolt did you use? Asking for a friend. 😬

Curious as to how this held up? May do mine like this today

@het4326

3 жыл бұрын

A little less than 10k miles in and so far, so good. It's a pretty common fix, as most Subarus in the rust belt will eventually experience this issue.

You might want to turn the bolt around. You’ll risk gumming up the threads from road debris or whatever is out there. Btw what was your approximate time for drilling?

@het4326

3 жыл бұрын

I mean, it's going to go through a Wisconsin winter, so it's going to get gummed up with slush and salt either way. Definitely something to try though! Took me a couple of days to get the old bolt drilled out. Not that I'm the best at drilling through hardened steel by any means haha! Although, it is significantly more difficult to drill out bolts when they are still on the vehicle, and I might have also been a bit overly cautious trying to avoid snapping off any bits. If you were to remove the hub assembly and drill it on a bench (or better yet, a drill press), the drilling would go a lot faster/smoother. Of course, the risk of breaking other fasteners when removing the hub assembly, may or may not be worth it. The joys of working on vehicles in the rust belt!

28ft-lbs? I googled the spec for my car and it said 90 and I broke it smh

how long is the new through bolt? which quality do i need for that screw?

@vihreelinja4743

Жыл бұрын

grade 8 should be strong enough.. its not really doing enything else than pinching the ears to clamp the balljoint.

But How long did it take? Was time measurable by a clock, calander, presidential terms?

@vihreelinja4743

Жыл бұрын

it is measured in light years. i am mustering up courage to go ahead and try my luck before the universum collapses on its self. if you feel the earth shake in a few moments. its just me banging my head on that devilish bolt so dont worry. just call an ambulance.

What size was the biggest drill bit you used? If you can recall?

@CesarSabinoN

3 ай бұрын

I just did this on my 2009 Forester. The biggest size I used was 3/8 inch.

I break these first with a racthet wd40 soaked or what ever works best then take off the spindle and impact it

What size bolt and nut did you use?

@het4326

3 жыл бұрын

I used a M10x1.25 Thread Bolt with a 14mm head. Nut was 15mm. Depending on how large the hole is you drill you could need a bigger size. Key things to remember is you want to make sure you are using Grade 8 rated hardware or higher, and the Bolt needs to be long enough to come out the other end for the Nut (anywhere from 60-75mm for Length should be fine, I used 60mm). If you want to be doubly sure you can measure the width of the pinch joint and add the length of the nut you plan to use.

Just curious as to how the through bolt and nut has held up after this repair. Seems maybe a little sketchy but it also seems like it could work. Ha.

@vihreelinja4743

Жыл бұрын

if you use a self locking NUT it is better than the original setup. but the diameter should be tight as possible for the hole.

@largewoodenbadger7195

28 күн бұрын

Did you use a 3/8 bolt?

Hey fellas if you had a 2015 Legacy and both bolts broke regardless of what you tried to keep that from happening You really need to step back and wonder why would any Designer would utilize this weak link Over the many years I've seen plenty cars use a thru bolt with nut combo and it never failed..a simple lower control arm replacement ends up being a huge Monkey fuck for no good reason. I'm drilling it out and using grade 8 with locking nut..end of story.

Yeah, that wouldn’t be a Subaru if it wasn’t leaking out oil pretty normal

Ya know if you turned that camera around, we could see your drip 😏

looks like you might need some calipers look at the inside of that rotor lol

@het4326

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, if you look closely in some of my newer videos, you can see that the calipers are brand new. Had the dealer deal with that one though, so unfortunately no video. Seeing how rusted everything was down there, and how long it took to drill out just this bolt, I figured it was better for someone with shop insurance to take care of it. Sometimes my time is worth the expense haha!

best way to protect threads is to not use a bit too close to threads... (get a small fire blanket for a propane torch wrap around axle boot) Heat up the bolt then quick spray it with penetrant fluid... tap in an easy out and remove.... when it comes to mf'rs to remove, go with heat (just be careful of what's around what you're heating. Better yet, if you have the money buy an induction tool. They are magic.

@vihreelinja4743

Жыл бұрын

my stealership changed the lower arms on a recall on my 05 forrester. well they used induction heaters but only managed to snap the pinch bolt head off. welded a nut on there and called it my problem as the ball joint was not on the recall.. They gave me the new balljoints and wished me luck :(

@kb25j

27 күн бұрын

You don't want to heat any suspension parts, it will most likely take the temper out, and they will be more prone to breaking / cracking.

also if you heated the bolt up it should of been softer to drill through.

@lloydames8752

3 жыл бұрын

Heat hardens steel does not soften it.

Pitch bolt is 37 foot pounds

@treksandpreps

2 жыл бұрын

Yea no 36.7 lol no one cares where his tires going.

All your anti-seize went onto the shanks of your bolts and not the threads.

You need some easy outs to remove it.

Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh

Subaru ball joints are one of the biggest PITA repairs. Terrible design.