Broken water pump bolt

MajiJeepTJ

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Joined
Nov 9, 2020
Messages
134
Location
Queens
Hey I hope someone can help me. I just finish installing a new water pump and I was torquing the bolts to spec 22 lbs and one of them broke. What the eff do I do now!!!

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I agree with the post above. You gotta take the pump out, from the picture i think you have some thread left to get it out with a vice grip
 
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Yep, remove water pump, put vise grips on it. Since it's not rusted in there, it will come right out.

I would replace all of the bolts, not just that one.
 
Yeah, I forget, i just took them to the HW store when I replaced them and the thermostat housing bolts on the YJ.
 
Do not buy a hard bolt thinking it's better. Break that off even with the block and you'll never get it out.
 
Why remove the water pump. Take a center punch to the bolt, drill it and use an e-z out.
It’s not needed.
Once you can get to it. It’ll likely spin out by hand. There’s no pressure on the threads anymore with the broken head. So minimal to no friction to overcome backing it out.
 
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It’s not needed.
Once you can get to it. It’ll likely spin out by hand. There’s no pressure on the threads anymore with the broken head. So minimal to no friction to overcome backing it out.
while I agree with you to a certain extent. I can center punch that, drill it and e-z out it quicker than removing the water pump and putting vise grips on it.
 
while I agree with you to a certain extent. I can center punch that, drill it and e-z out it quicker than removing the water pump and putting vise grips on it.
If the system were wet, I’d most certainly try that method first. It sounds like the OP hasn’t gotten around to refilling the coolant yet. So, dropping a half dozen bolts out is easy and clean.
 
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You could give needle nose pliers a try also. If theres no tension, it could come out with a few spins
 
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