Stuck Skid Plate Bolt

I’ve got two bolts that are stuck and I’ve tried vice grips, and sockets to get it but it won’t budge. I also tried to loosen it with some spray but nothing. Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated. I don’t have access to many tools but I’ll give anything a shot

 

any way you could file them back to hex enough to get an impact socket to fit? a socket wrench with pipe slipped over the handle to increase leverage.

a garage might do it for a few bucks rather than buy tools.

another thought is drill into the bolt with progressively larger drill bits until you can use a small cold chisel or pick.

if they can be drilled, you could also beat a screw extractor in and wrench it out.

there are drills which have reverse flutes meaning they cut into when used in a drill set to reverse rotation. I think the motion of drilling helps break the rust bond.

you could use heat from a map gas torch.

but damn, if the vise grips don't work . . . .

 

That's pretty chewed up but you may be able to loosen it with an impact driver. Either electric or hammer blow impact driver. They also make extractor sockets for impact drivers; they have threading that chews into the rounded off bolt head.

You can also try a metal file to try to get some better flats on the bolt, maybe file it down to the next smaller size, then try and impact driver if you don't have extractor sockets.

I have never tried torch heat, but I have had it recommended by a couple of mechanics.

 

Heat the fuck out of it, then use an extractor socket. This will pretty much ruin the bolt head, so buy replacements ahead of time.

Either that, or you'll shear the bolt head off, in which case it's time to drill out the remaining shaft.

 

If you can whack that F'er with a hammer. If that doesn't work, heat!

 

Tac weld a nut on the end and impact it off

 

This.

https://www.bernzomatic.com/Projects/DIY/Loosen-Rusted-Bolts

 

Drill, dremel, or hacksaw that thing off, then drill and clean out the hole and threads. Replace the screws. The 12mm square bolt can break off too, so you might need to replace that.

 

I don't have access to a welder or i would tac on another nut.

Sounds like I am bringing the heat to this one! At this point I don't care how it comes off. I'll give it a go tomorrow, ran out of daylight hours today

 

If I drill what size bit should I use?

 

https://youtu.be/_EfLTszAr7w

 

Probably a bit of both, this is the first time I have done my own oil due to traveling across country and lack of time to do it myself

 

Heat it up. I'd try that first, if that doesn't work for you there are plenty of good suggestions mentioned.

 

Here is a pic of what you are dealing with. I just took my skid plate off earlier today to get to my cam bolts. I'd start with a smaller bit, and work up to 1/4.

 

They are very soft steel. I cross threaded one so bad it was smooth and shiny. Grinded off the old welded nuts and used a rivet nut with a new bolt. Had to drill out the hole a tad bit

 

Cut it off, cut the head to make a flat head, bolt extractor, drill it out.

 

Impact or anything violent will just break off the spot weld holding the nut on the other end which wil make you even more mad. Put some penetrating oil on the exposed threads and let it soak down. Then clean up the bolt head with a file and get a socket back on there, try tightening it first to break the corrosion then loosen it...really try not to break off the nuts.. in the future always put anti seize on the skid plate bolts

 

Use a heat shield behind it, don’t

 

Replace the bolts w/ stainless bolts...