Finally got the broken fender bolt out. But...

I should have listened to a forum member, who said to never use a screw extractor. The tip broke off in the hole I drilled (Drilled all the way through, using different sized Harbor freight left hand twist drill bits, before I decided to see if a screw extractor would work).

So, today I was doing some Google search research, on how to remove a broken screw extractor. I saw this bit called the Rescue Bit (1/8" x 3"). I can't remember if their website said it was made of tungsten carbide. A short time after that, I notice a tungsten carbide bit at Lowe's, that looked similar to the Rescue Bit that cost $64.99. So I bought the Dremel Tungsten Carbide 1/8th inch Cutting Bit (bought the cylindrical and the cone shaped one for $9.99 and $8.99, no tax in Montucky).

I was trying not to force the Dremel bits at first, and the cylindrical bit was really working like the Rescue Bit. The cone shaped Dremel bit was better for a pilot. So I went back to Lowe's and bought some industrial cobalt drill bits of differnet sizes. But the smallest drill bit wasn't doing anything. So I gave the cylindrical Dremel bit some good leverage/elbow grease, and moved my drill in a circular motion. It really did the trick.

But I ended up grinding most of the female thread away.

Should I buy a tap and die set that would have and M7 size tap, to try to tap a female thread that is one size larger?

 

Depends on the application. Also, most "common" metric bolt sizes jump from m6 to m8. What exactly did you bugger up?

Also, harbor freight is getting... better *cough*, but if what you need requires a hardened steel or special alloy (i.e. drill bits, taps), shop elsewhere.

I just noticed "fender" in your thread title, but could you be more specific, throw in a pic if you can.

 

@Gravy I accidentally drilled out the female threads on the nut that one of the left front fender bolts bolts into.

 

I guess the cheap fix would be to buy a bolt that's lobg enough, so I can secure with another nut.

 

Yeah, if it's a non-critical body nut, and theres room behind it, there's all kinds of options. A longer bolt and new nut is probably the easiest. GL!

 

@Gravy Thanks! I will save some money.