On Mon, 9 Jan 1995, Gerald Skerbitz wrote:

> Bentley's describes removing the dash, but they talk about "drilling out" 
> the steering shear bolts.  Is this usually done?  Does everyone just go 
> out and buy the new parts?  What does it mean to "drill them out"?   Why 
> are they drilled out? Won't they come out by unscrewing them?
> 
> Inquiring minds want to know... *I* want to know.
> 

Gerry,
I had to do this on my '78 to replace something in the column.  If they 
did not change the design, then the story goes like this:

The bolt as sold:   --      --
                   |  |_  _|  |   - Allen socket head 
                   |    ||    |
                   |___ || ___|
                       /||\       - real skinny neck
                      / || \        (note the tiny drilled hole)
                    /       \
                    \       /     - threads
                    /       \
                    \       /
                     etc., etc.

As the bolt is torqued the head breaks off, leaving no way to extract 
it.  This is for obvious security reasons.  (The first thing every car 
thief I ever met wanted to do was remove the Steering wheel, right?)  ;-%
Anyhow, the way to remove it is to go, buy an extractor set and matching 
drill bits.  If you are real lucky, the smallest will fit in the tiny 
hole left in the bolt  "head", otherwise drill the head and use an 
extractor to remove the bolt.  Extractors are tools that have a mild 
taper and left hand threads, as you turn them in a hole, they tighten 
when turned counter clockwise and (with luck) unscrew the broken of bolt.

If this isn't clear, post again and I will try to be clearer.

					H Steven Dolan
					dworkin@netcom.com