fj80toyman
...One Landcruiser at a time
A couple of weeks ago, several of us put new springs on 3 trucks. I decided to do only the springs but during the swap of the front springs, it was apparent that I was going to need new shocks. Ordered some up from Slee along with new Frame-to-Axle SS brake lines.
After a long trip from Colorado (Co->Las Vegas-> Ontario, Ca -> Las Vegas -> SLC -> Las Vegas -> Ontario -> Torrance) and a week later, the new shocks (N73L) arrived. I was so anxious to get them on it took me only 30 minutes to swap them out tonight.
During the rear spring swap, I had also broken a lower shock mounting bolt off. Since then, I could only fit in an hour every day but it took me 3 days to get that broken sucker out of there.
Now a few thoughts on using an EZ-Out
- Only use one if you're 99% confident that the bolt will move with light to moderate torque
- Pay attention to the drill size according to the ez-out size - you don't want the ez-out to go too far into the hole.
- When you're applying torque and you hear the very slight sound of cracking (sounds like pouring water over ice in a glass) - STOP!! You're done. The ez-out now has very small cracks that have significantly weakened the tool. The next application of force is going to break it off.
- Drilling a broken ez-out with a normal drill bit is useless, but I had to try anyway. Ruined only one drill bit this time before I gave up.
Well at the end of it all, I got the broken EZ-Out out by cutting a slot in it and using the air ratchet with an impact bit and basically vibrated it out.
I drilled, tapped and ran in a heli-coil. Hopefully good as new.
The good part is the front shocks went on so easy. That was to make up in some way for the grief the rear shock gave me.
Next is to get the brake lines on and replace the Caster bushings. It never ends.
Thanks for listening.
After a long trip from Colorado (Co->Las Vegas-> Ontario, Ca -> Las Vegas -> SLC -> Las Vegas -> Ontario -> Torrance) and a week later, the new shocks (N73L) arrived. I was so anxious to get them on it took me only 30 minutes to swap them out tonight.
During the rear spring swap, I had also broken a lower shock mounting bolt off. Since then, I could only fit in an hour every day but it took me 3 days to get that broken sucker out of there.
Now a few thoughts on using an EZ-Out
- Only use one if you're 99% confident that the bolt will move with light to moderate torque
- Pay attention to the drill size according to the ez-out size - you don't want the ez-out to go too far into the hole.
- When you're applying torque and you hear the very slight sound of cracking (sounds like pouring water over ice in a glass) - STOP!! You're done. The ez-out now has very small cracks that have significantly weakened the tool. The next application of force is going to break it off.
- Drilling a broken ez-out with a normal drill bit is useless, but I had to try anyway. Ruined only one drill bit this time before I gave up.
Well at the end of it all, I got the broken EZ-Out out by cutting a slot in it and using the air ratchet with an impact bit and basically vibrated it out.
I drilled, tapped and ran in a heli-coil. Hopefully good as new.
The good part is the front shocks went on so easy. That was to make up in some way for the grief the rear shock gave me.
Next is to get the brake lines on and replace the Caster bushings. It never ends.
Thanks for listening.
