Stripped Torx bolt
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; Sep 19, 2010 at 03:40 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
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
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
might be torx-plus but due to rounding it may be pointless to try those bits and they're difficult to find locally.
Since you're already slotted it, you might try an impact screwdriver.
Since you're already slotted it, you might try an impact screwdriver.
If you have a air compressor, you can you a air hammer/ air chisel, and us ethe flat blade and lightly start on trying to sping it around. I do this a lot at work torx ****!
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0
Brett Foote
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever
Verdad Gallardo 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
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
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?
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?
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. 
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.
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.