so this bolt broke, i bought a extractor and tried to use it.....the extractor broke off inside the screw. so im either going to take it to a machine shop if i can find one and have them remove/ try to remove or try to purchase the front part of my ac compressor. is is hard to dissassemble the compressor? can i remove that front portion and replace it?

 

Why is this in the DIY turbo section?

Take it to a machine shop, its probably doable. I'm not sure if its hard to disassemble, but why bother? Pick a whole one up at a junkyard or something.

 

I've always found it much easier to drill out a bolt and retap the hole with the same threads than to use an extractor. First, you have already determined that the metal bolt was not strong enough itself to overcome the friction, now you are inserting a much thinner piece of hardened tool steel into the broken bolt. Yes it's harder steel, but it's so much thinner that it won't hold up to the torque necessary. You'll snap it off, and good luck drilling out the tool steel :P

To be fair, I think I've managed to successfully extract one bolt in my life by drilling the center of the bolt, inserting an extractor, and turning it out. I've never failed, however, to drill the bolt out (before breaking off a tool in the bolt) and then running a tap through to clean up the threads.

 

I was thinking of possibly removing some or all the surrounding material so i can get some vise grip pliers and turn that **** out. I could use spacers once the metal is gone if i removed all the metal. Is that something i could remove eithout putting a hole in the compresor?

I was doing my turbo myself and this happend. I needed to make space so i could tap my oil pan.

 

It's possible that you could grind down the metal a little bit, put a nut over the top 1/10th of a turn of thread on the bolt, then weld the nut to the bolt piece.

I still suggest it's unlikely that it will work.

The fact that the bolt is broken is still a secondary problem. The primary problem still exists: the broken bolt is frozen so solidly in the compressor that it will likely snap again before it begins to turn. Also important to note: You don't want to **** up the machined surface that the A/C line seals against.

For the love of all things car-related, take it to a machine shop and stop pansying around with failed kiddie-fixes. Part with the full hour's worth of labor that they'll charge you (a passionate proprietor might spend the 5 minutes to do it for you for free). And get on with your life knowing that you didn't have to go buy a whole new compressor. It will save you time, it will save you headache, it will save you frustration, and yes, I believe it will also save you money.