Removing a stripped bolt

[Silviagirl79]

Hello, my husband and I were trying to install our new front strut bar. And of course every single bolt came off (not easily), except for one that was giving my husband some trouble...and eventually the bolt got stripped.

How do you remove a stripped bolt??

Thanks

[kingsoup]

Well basically in most cases you want too use an easy-out.

An easy out is a reverse drill bit, usually what you do is drill a small pilot hole in the bolt, then put in the easy out on a low speed drill, slowly apply pressure too the easy-out and that bolt should back out. Also I recommend heating the bolt with a propane torch or the like too loosten it up even more.

You can get an easy-out at most hardware stores. Its like a grippy reverse drill bit, their should be instructions on the package how too use it, or ask your friendly hardware guy for some tips, its not rocket science, but don't use a drill that works really fast or poweful too back it out, I made that mistake once

[bruinbear714]

Do you mean a stripped bolt or a stripped NUT?

I believe the hardware holding the struts to the chassis are 14mm nuts (3 on each side)...

I don't mean to sound like an ***, but why not try the right size tool? If they are just stripped on the corners then you might still be able to remove it with a 14mm socket that is designed to remove nuts with rounded corners.

If they are stripped bolts then you can do what kingsoup said, or use some vice grips.

[Structure240sx]

i have that problem on 2 of them sort of. those strut tower bolts have a flat head on the other side of the pillow ball mount if thats the right word for it. so the bolt cant be backed out. hopefully you just mean the nut is rounded off. i did that too. try a vise grip or a lil trickier like i did was grind each side flat to the next size down. i got a new mount off ebay for $1 at the dealer they want $67.

[Silviagirl79]

yeah the nut that holds the strut is rounded.

[96_S14_SE]

PB blaster, a big pair of vice grips as tight as possible, and a replacement nut..

It that dont work a nut breaker / dremel (cut 7/8 through on both sides and then use a large slotted screw driver to separate it, as to not cut into the threads) should help, once again with a replacement nut.

Kinda odd as it should only be put on with about 47ft lbs iirc, even though mine are on at atleast 60 and ive never stripped one...

[astron]

sears has extractors for rounded off bolts, might try that out, vice grips will probably just hurt more, in my experience (and i have some, i've totally dismantled a rusty '65 beetle)ast

[Zing]

i got the same problem of stripped nut for the front sway D braketi tried dremel, i cut the nuts almost to the thread and I still can't break it ... can anyone help me ?

[Toahk]

Pound a socket on, worked for me many of times, but you might lose the socket to breaking or not be able to get the nut off the socket after.

[Touchdown038]

Will the easy out work with broken bolts that aren't stripped?

[U12 2NR]

be careful with what you're doing on the strut mounts, last thing you wanna do is strip the bolt itself and now you have to get a new strut mount, which means taking apart the spring/strut/mount. Sears does in fact sell sockets specificaly designed to get rounded nuts off. (hehehe).

[96_S14_SE]

I could care less about busting a stud on the top strut perch.... But then again I have 2 spare perches

Spares are good

Oh and this thread is 5 months old .......

[C-Kwik]

Any automotive parts store should have a nut breaker. It will basically split the nut.

If the rounding isn't too bad though, try using a Metrinch set on it. Amazingly, it does work well. I hate them for regular use since they fit so loosely, but with rounded fasteners, they work very well.