Stripped bolt

[chunderboy]

Well, my boy with a GC laredo is trying to get a bolt off of the front of his truck for a push bar. After trying unsuccessfully for a little while it looks a little stripped. Is there anyway to remove the bolt w/o further efing it up?

And worse case scenario, if it is stripped, then how do you get it off?

Thanks

 

[jharris2]

Well, my boy with a GC laredo is trying to get a bolt off of the front of his truck for a push bar. After trying unsuccessfully for a little while it looks a little stripped. Is there anyway to remove the bolt w/o further efing it up?

And worse case scenario, if it is stripped, then how do you get it off?

Thanks

Do you mean that the threads are stripped or that the head is rounded off so that a socket or wrench won't grab it?

If it's the latter, then I've seen some wrenches that claim to be able to grab them and loosen the bolt. Never had the opportunity to try it out, though, so I honestly don't know if they work. Thought I saw some on sale a week or two ago at Sears.

 

[chunderboy]

Yea, it isn't the threads, it is the head of the bolt. Who knows. I mean it isn't totally rouinded off yet, so he i told him before anymore damage is done to it, just bring it to a garage to have them use an airgun on it. Hopefully it works

 

[sharp4runr]

A lot of liquid wrench may loosen the threads. Also try heating up with a blow torch. The expanding and shrinking may loosen it some too.

I've also seen the sockets that "dig" into a bolt to turn it out. never tried them, but it sounds like it would work.

 

[greasefingers]

Drewboy:
Twelve point sockets are terrible for larger or rusted applications. A hex head bolt or nut requires a six point socket for better surface contact. Try to never use adjustable wrenches either, use an open-ended wrench; they will not flex as much under heavier loads. This is extremely important on steering, suspension, and bumper hardware. Usually anything over a

 

[Hank]

You can try using one of the following:
1) Metrinch: (I think that's how it is spelled) It used to be on infomercials over 10yrs ago. It makes contact w/the sides of the bolt, not the edges/corners.
2) Gatorgrip: it's basically a socket head (not sure if that's the right term) with many pins inside that retracts to conform to the shape of the bolt, screw, etc. It's about $10-$15 Downside is that it can't really handle alot of torque.
3) Craftsman bolt remover (if the bolt head becomes too rounded & stripped): it's a socket head that has six sharp, tapered-spiral edges that will dig into the stripped/rounded bolt head and twist it out. The bolt will be unuseable afterwards. Good luck

 

[greasefingers]

Usually I aggressively attach Vise-grip pliers, as a last resort. I do not have those tools list by Hank. But beware, if the vise grip slips it will surely trash the bolt head. If so then drilling the stud out will require the best quality drill bit. Re-tapping is next and sometimes followed by a Helicoil insert. If it

 

[chiefiji]

i bought stripped bolt remover sockets from home depot when i stripped some of the bolts while removing my skids. you can find them at sears too. they did the job as long as the head wasn't too rounded off. spray some liquid wrench in there and let it sit for a while, then go at it with the sockets.