[Mexglx]

I broke a water pump bolt trying to do a timing belt replacement and proactive water pump replacement. I finally succeeded in removing one of the broken bolts. We had to use a mig welder to do it. I will tell you right now, do not use an easy-out on broken water pump bolts. Once I removed the water pump, I found a dealer had previously broken a bolt at the last water pump replacementand and just left it broken . So I had two bolts to remove. I broke off two eazy-outs, one in each bolt tryout ng tonremove them. Don’t use them on seized bolts. You’ll see why in pics. I ordered a cheap Amazon flux core mig welder for $159. It worked great. We went through a dozen nuts trying to get the bolt out. You can’t use stainless bolts. Also disconnect battery at both terminals completely. Get someone who knows how to weld. In the last pic you can see that my easy out broke because it had gone through the bolt and caught the bolt hole threads. The heat from the welder will help expand aluminum and break loose any rust or corrosion. In the future I would always use this approach of welding nuts onto the broken bolt and repeatedly trying to remove until it finally comes out. Holding the nut with vice grips over the broken bolt helps you to build up the weld even if the bolt is flush or below the block level. I’ll post a little video later.

 

[Mexglx]

Here is a quick video link to get an idea of what we did. Sorry, not a tutorial on welding. It’s a quick glimpse that you can get the bolts out. Also do not use eazy-outs on seized bolts. I have learned they don’t work enough. Better off going to the welder. Water pump bolt removal