HELP! Rounded Bolt. Doesn't come out!

d0nkeyxpunch

d0nkeyxpunch

New member
Guys, I need your assistance on this. My passenger side lower ball joint needed to be replaced and when I was trying to remove one of the 14mm bolts on the bottom, I noticed that previous owner had rounded the bolt. I went ahead and bought the craftsman bolt/nut remover and that made it WORSE. I'm so annoyed with this truck. There's always little things like this that slows me down.

Is there anything I can do to get this bolt removed? I already soaked the bolt with PB Blaster for 2 days and still doesn't budge. Now the bolt remover socket doesn't even grab it. What a POS tool.

Also anybody near Los Angeles area can help me out? I will pay for you service. I'm so damn annoyed, frustrated, and pissed!
 
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You might want to take a file and flatten out the sides enough to get the next smaller sized socket on it.
 
The bolt is threaded into the LBJ
So can't you just drill the head of the bolt off and take the LBJ right off? Then replace the new LBJ and new bolt? At least get the old part out of the way.
 
the bolt is threaded into the lower part of the knuckle so grinding the head-off is not going to help but surely let you to remove the LBJ off from the knuckle. After this, you can see the stud sticking out of the knuckle and using a good wise grip you can remove the stuck bolt. Make sure to clean the exposed threads that sticks out of the knuckle with a wire brush
 
Got a welder, or access to one? Weld a nut to the head of the bolt, and remove it that way.
 
Do you have a center punch or a hammer?

Hit the bolt or LBJ housing portion to shock the metal and help loosen the bolt.

Clean off the exposed threads before you try and back the bolt out as previously stated.

Heat the housing the expand it to help loosen the grip from the bolt.

Spray something on to help work is loose and lubed
 
I've been spraying PB Blaster and hammering the sides of the LBJ to shock it, but it is really on there. I noticed the other 3 bolts were tough to get out, but it came out no problem. There was alot of rust on the bolts.

If I can't get any help, I will go buy a dremel over at Harbor Freight for $10 to grind a new size. I seriously can't believe an easy job like this is taking a long time cuz of this bolt! lol :rain:
 
Be sure to use only 6 point sockets too. It makes a huge difference. You could try filing it down to a smaller socket size. Some like torching the bolt and touching the tip with a plain old wax candle.
 
Easy,

Go down to harbor freight. Ask them for the left handed drill bits. Start with that and it should do the trick it is that bad them use an easy out. I have both of them in my tool box just for stuff like that. Good Luck.

Blue
 
Ol'Blue said:
Easy,

Go down to harbor freight. Ask them for the left handed drill bits. Start with that and it should do the trick it is that bad them use an easy out. I have both of them in my tool box just for stuff like that. Good Luck.

Blue
Click to expand...

Any reason why left handed specific? Also, what do I do with the drill bits?
 
Try locking pliers (vice grips). That has worked countless times for me.
JB weld could be your friend too if too much of the bolt is gone to grind in the beginning. Clean all PB blaster/grime etc, JB weld a glob on the end and grind into shape.

Good luck. I get infuriated when ish like that happens
 
Don't forget when you finally get it off to replace all the bolts on both sides so you don't have to deal with this again.
 
I bought the $15 heat gun (I'm not a fan of using a torch on parts that are soaked with a highly flammable penetrant) from Harbor Freight and it makes a world of a difference. Heat cycling the bolt will loosen it. Get it super hot and try to take it off. If not, let it cool and try again.
 
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