Dale8000

So I was changing the belts the other day and I guess I didnt loosen the idler pulley bolt enough and i snapped the adjusting bolt. Any idea how to get that out now?
Here's a pic: http://bit.ly/ZKeHEH
I broke bolt B. I took the idler pulley off completely (don't need A/C yet in Canada haha) but I still don't see where that bolt attaches to.

Cliffjumper126

You snapped the head off? Sounds like you'll have to drill it out :/

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

You don't see where it bolts too? Even if you broke the head off it should unscrew easily and you should be able to find a bolt of the same length pretty easily.

Dale8000

I can see the top of the threads so I'm going to try and unscrew it. According to a Mazda technician, this bolt screws right into the engine block :s So hopefully I'll just be able to unscrew it and replace it.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Neither bolt A or B screw into the block. Someone is confused.

CRO8TIA

Rule #1- Don't listen to Mazda tech's.
Unbolt the bracket that holds the adjuster pulley,you will have a better idea how to remove it.

Dale8000

@CRO8TIA that's the plan. I'm hoping to be able to get a drill chuck in there and unscrew the bolt that way. I'll let you guys know what happens. Thanks

nogoer

i just went through this two weeks ago. The head snaps off because the bolt is seized into the idler pully mount. I also tried to just thread it out since i had plenty of bolt sticking out, take my advice and forget about this route and save yourself a half hour. You may be able to drill it out and i initially was successful albeit i drilled crooked. It wasn't until i was re-tapping the hole that things truly went south when i snapped the tap off in the hole.

You can't get just the idler pulley mount either, it comes as a whole unit with the bracket, pulley, idler mount and the bolt that you snapped off. Sure its not a cheap part, and its dealer only but hey now i have a nice shiny bracket and a brand new idler pulley

Dale8000

So I finally got around to taking the bracket out and here's what is left. The pulley mount seems pretty seized on there. I'm stubborn so I'm still going to try taking it out, but if the mount doesnt move, there's no sense in trying to save this anyways.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

if you're dirt poor and have no life it might make sense to spend a day messing with it than picking up a good used one for cheap

anti-seize is your friend, given the indicated corrosion level you probably have a lot of other issues still waiting to be found

nogoer

The mount is a two part piece and will come apart eventually if you use a big enough hammer. You're wasting your time though, although i get it. Even if the assembly was only 50 it would still be worth hours of my personal time to try and save that 50.

If you do have to by the part then i would also avoid a used one. If you manage to find one that isn't seized already it's just a matter of time until it does and you're right back in this thread again. Who knows though, maybe mine and your 8s were badly maintained and the belts were never changed enough to keep that bolt free. I'd rather not have to replace this part every time i do the belts.