Rounded off bolt removal help please

[mk2cliffy]

Tried removing the bolt that holds down the rear seat belts in the wife's corsa, the bolt had a t45 head but I managed to round it off because it was so tight, now I'm left with a rounded off bolt that I need to get out to attach the new seat belts for the new interior. Tried with mile grips but I bent them and they kept slipping,, tried drilling the bolt out but it's tough for the drill bit.

Any ideas with out having to spend too much on tools?

[blackspaven]

If you can get to them, angle grind the edges down to a hexagon so a socket will fit over it?

[faradaycage]

Tried removing the bolt that holds down the rear seat belts in the wife's corsa, the bolt had a t45 head but I managed to round it off because it was so tight, now I'm left with a rounded off bolt that I need to get out to attach the new seat belts for the new interior. Tried with mile grips but I bent them and they kept slipping,, tried drilling the bolt out but it's tough for the drill bit.

Any ideas with out having to spend too much on tools?

Saturate it with wd40 or similar,use a small cutter wheel on a Dremmel to cut an X in the centre of the bolt then using a bolt extractor tool in your drill [ebay for well under a tenner ] use the centre of the X to let the drill align and get a purchase..then drill it out.Or use the X to locate an impact driver with a screwdriver head attachment and give it a couple of good whacks...although that option may be a one shot deal and muller it if it doesn't come free first strike.Its difficult to judge without being able to see how much of the bolt is left proud of the surrounding surface.

[Tinbum]

The only mole grips I have found worth buying are the 'vise grip' range my Irwin. Excellent tools worth buying a pair and trying with them.

 

Other option is to weld a nut onto the bolt head. Mind your trim though!!

[Nikonite]

Use an old slightly smaller socket and hammer it over the top. Cheaper sockets are better as they give a little too

[Miz]

Try warming the bolt with a hot air gun first, probably has loctite (or similar) on it.

[jmattley]

Extraction sockets are pretty good. They have teeth on the inside.

[VrsMule]

Buy yourself a decent Cobalt drill bit and then drill the centre of bolt , buy the appropriate "ezee-out" start it by tapping in firmly with a hammer and remove.

[Atkins lad]

If you go under the car you'll see the bolt where it comes though use wd 40 and a wire brush and try hammering a big bit in if not , angle grind the head off take the seat belt out the way and you should be albe to get mole grips straight on to the thread it self just take your time with it

[Mikek3111]

Where are u based? Maybe someone local could help? I'd be happy to if your local to newmarket

[rlp]

Try using a smaller drill bit to get a pilot hole , then gradually increase the bit size, two things here are that the smaller bit should cut easier , also the heat from drilling will help and I've had times when the drill will take the bolt thro' after the bolt head has gone = good luck

[mk2cliffy]

Thanks for all the replies, I haven't got any specialists tools really, I haven't got a dremmel, welding kit or heat gun. I tried drilling using a small drill bit and then going up in sizes but the bolt is too hard to get through, the bits just keep going blunt, wondering if cutting the head off to get the actual seat belt out of the way, then use 2 bolts tightened against each other to tighten the bolt back into the hole as much as I can, then cut off the bolt from underneath the car hopefully cuting off as much of the rusted threads and being left with the cleaner thread which will then undo the way that it should originally. I'm in Ripon near Harrogate if anyone close by can help?

[blackspaven]

Only my ex wife and she doesn't own any tools.

[gregoir]

A tough one to deal with but a specialist tool or heating with a welding torch first are the only ways I've dealt with such a problem. Good luck.

[Nikonite]

Only my ex wife and she doesn't own any tools. [/quote

Anything like my ex and she would be an expert at removing nuts!

[mk2cliffy]

Would using 2 nuts tightened against each other work?

[Miz]

Can you post pictures of both ends of the bolt?

Makes it easier for us to "see" your problem.

If you only have a minimal toolkit, it might be advisable to get some help before you damage it too much.

[mk2cliffy]

[mk2cliffy]

Not the best picture, as you can see I've already tried drilling the bolt out. The other end of the bolt just sticks out under the car about 2 inch and is just threads

[thejames]

Not ideal because you've already drilled the centre, but sometimes you can cut a groove through the top with a hacksaw and use a big bastid screwdriver/ratchet for some purchase.

[Miz]

If you do have 50mm of thread showing under the car, then it should be possible to wire brush the threads then lock two nuts together and loosen the bolt that way, but it will need to be cleaned and soaked in a good release agent.

[mk2cliffy]

I'm going to try getting it out using 2 nuts, hopefully it works.