Broken manifold bolts

2006 CHEVROLET SSR
208,000 MILES • 6.0L • V8 • RWD • AUTOMATIC
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SEAN SILBERHOLZ
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  • 44 POSTS
Hi, on my dads car It has two broke on the right side and one on the left. Or two broke on the left and one broke on the right. I do not really remember. I asked my friend he is a mechanic and he said the only way to get them out is to take the heads off and send them out. He said he has encountered where he tapped them out and the heads leaked coolant. I asked two other shops and they said the same thing. I am almost positive these are aluminum heads. They are also hard to get too. I just wanted to make sure that this is the case. Thanks for any suggestions.
Aug 19, 2017 at 7:56 PM
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STRAILER
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 54,832 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
They are correct, they need to be removed and taken to a machine shop for extraction. If you try to take them out in the car you can get the drill a little off and ruin the head.

Please get back to us with your results.

Cheers, Ken
Aug 20, 2017 at 5:42 PM
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STEVE W.
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 15,200 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
If they broke off with any of the stub still above the head there are a couple things I try before removing the head(s) one is to apply a good penetrating oil like PBlaster or Kroil. Then tap on the stub a few times, straight in and to the sides. Then try vice grips once. The next step requires a welder. You take a nut that fits over the stub, Weld it to what is left of the stub and use it to remove the broken piece. 99% of the time these methods work, Then use a thread chaser to clean the corrosion out of the threads.
Aug 21, 2017 at 7:18 AM
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