Stripped Torx bolt
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Stripped Torx bolt
I'm swapping a set of Lancer Evo Recaro seats into my car. I'm trying to remove the seat rails from the Recaros, which are bolted to the seat with two Torx bolts on each side. I tried to use a T30 Torx bit, which fit pretty good. As I tried to loosen one of the bolts, it stripped. The bolts have Loctite on them. I tried to use a T40 bit, but it won't fit, even after hammering it in. I tried to use vise grips, but the bolt has a round head so the vise grips won't work. I cut a slot in the bolt head for a flat head screwdriver, which only slipped out of the slot. I tried a bolt/screw extractor, but all that did was round it off even more and dull the teeth on the extractor. I'm at my wit's end here. I've read that you can weld an Allen key on there and get it out, but I don't have access to a welder, nevermind that I don't know how to weld anyway. My final idea is getting a T35 bit - they're rare, and it seems odd that they would use a bolt that needs that size.
Anyone else have any suggestions?
Anyone else have any suggestions?
Last edited by skorpion317; 09-19-2010 at 03:40 PM.
#2
Have you tried these?? I have had good sucess w/ them..
http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Industri.../dp/B0002YVUM6
http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Industri.../dp/B0002YVUM6
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Have you tried these?? I have had good sucess w/ them..
http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Industri.../dp/B0002YVUM6
http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Industri.../dp/B0002YVUM6
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#9
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Have you tried these?? I have had good sucess w/ them..
http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Industri.../dp/B0002YVUM6
http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Industri.../dp/B0002YVUM6
#11
We deal with this situation on aircraft every day at work, except we dont have the good situation you have. You have a button head for extra material. Start with the smallest drill bit and pick up some easy outs.
Once you can fit the smallest easy out as far in as you can hook up some vise grips to it, and bang on the easy out while you turn the fastener.
If it has lock tite on it, you might have to heat the fastener up just to get it to turn. Have you tried any combination said above with some pb blaster?
Once you can fit the smallest easy out as far in as you can hook up some vise grips to it, and bang on the easy out while you turn the fastener.
If it has lock tite on it, you might have to heat the fastener up just to get it to turn. Have you tried any combination said above with some pb blaster?
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We deal with this situation on aircraft every day at work, except we dont have the good situation you have. You have a button head for extra material. Start with the smallest drill bit and pick up some easy outs.
Once you can fit the smallest easy out as far in as you can hook up some vise grips to it, and bang on the easy out while you turn the fastener.
If it has lock tite on it, you might have to heat the fastener up just to get it to turn. Have you tried any combination said above with some pb blaster?
Once you can fit the smallest easy out as far in as you can hook up some vise grips to it, and bang on the easy out while you turn the fastener.
If it has lock tite on it, you might have to heat the fastener up just to get it to turn. Have you tried any combination said above with some pb blaster?
#18
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When I completely boogered one of the Torx bolts in my transmission bellhousing, I took it to a machine shop and they simply welded a nut to the top of the bolt and used a plain old wrench to get it out.
I'd find a buddy with a welder. Wouldn't take 10 minutes. Just be sure to cover all around the area with damp towels or leather to prevent splatter fires. Hold a nut on there, hit the center of the nut with the welder, and back it out.
I'd find a buddy with a welder. Wouldn't take 10 minutes. Just be sure to cover all around the area with damp towels or leather to prevent splatter fires. Hold a nut on there, hit the center of the nut with the welder, and back it out.
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Take a cutoff wheel and square up the edges of
the round-head bolt. Get a good pair of Vise Grips
(with sharp serrated jaws) and they should bite
well enough.
A tool that has served me well, I first got for working
on Japanese motorcycles (prone to use long steel
Phillips head bolts into aluminum cases) is a hand
impact driver. You can adapt these to any bit you want
since they usually come with a square 3/8" tip inside the
hex nose piece.
Hammer blows force the bit into the work at the same
time they apply the impact torque.
the round-head bolt. Get a good pair of Vise Grips
(with sharp serrated jaws) and they should bite
well enough.
A tool that has served me well, I first got for working
on Japanese motorcycles (prone to use long steel
Phillips head bolts into aluminum cases) is a hand
impact driver. You can adapt these to any bit you want
since they usually come with a square 3/8" tip inside the
hex nose piece.
Hammer blows force the bit into the work at the same
time they apply the impact torque.
#20
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I might be able to bring the seats to work - we have welders there, so I could just weld a bolt or Allen key like others have suggested. I didn't want to bring them to work in case the seats themselves got dirty/messed up, but it's probably my last resort.