81 C10 1/2 ton differential issues

[mrc6644]

Hello, my name is Michael and I am new here. I am presently trying to change out the left axle seal. I have run into a snafu. The retaining bolt, which holds the main pin that goes through the spider gears, sheared off leaving the non threaded end and a partial thread inside the retainer hole. I am trying everything I can think of to get the broken piece out without damaging the threads for the bolt, but have been unable to achieve the task. Any suggestions??

[bake74]

     Welcome to the site from California, is there enough to grab with pliers ?

[mrc6644]

Thanks. No, no way to get it with pliers. I have been told by two guys that have been there done that, that you just have to use small chisels and the like. Not sure how that works exactly without severely damaging the threads for the retainer bolt. I cannot get an easy out in the hole straight on either. Beating my head against the ground because this was going to be a quick job. I am considering drilling through the bottom of the center pin, but I am uncertain if that would help. I can see into the hole with a light that the end of the retainer is past the threads and actually about an 1/8th of an inch set into the center pin. I hope I am making sense. I can always take a photo and just post it. 

[frotosride]

Here's something that has saved my but a lot and it's the cheapest easyout you will ever use because you probably already have it. You said that you couldn't get an easy out centered in the hole so I assume the you already at least started drilling a hole for the esayout bit. Drill the hole as deep as you can without getting too deep into the threads of the pin. Take a the longest shaft allen wrench you have that is slightly bigger than the hole you driller and hammer it in to the hole as deep as you can..then just unscrew. it doesn't matter it the hole isn't straight through the center of the bolt. I have used this so many times especially when I didn't have access to or know or an easyout.

[frotosride]

Also, if you thing that the threads are jammed to bad flip it over and try to drill as far through the retaining bolt as you can. Most of the time the heat will cause the metal to expand and when it cools and contracts it tends to loosen because of the somewhat of a relief hole you put in the middle of the bolt. Hope this works for you as well as it has for me in the past.