Best way to remove an 18mm bolt with stripped head

[jo1010]

... I only have a canister blow torch though.

Whatever gas you use, the bolt has to get to (almost) molten red - if it hasn't got hot enough it won't release. Tbh oxygen with propane is the game changer here......or get a cheap welding set

 

[premmington]

Whatever gas you use, the bolt has to get to (almost) molten red - if it hasn't got hot enough it won't release. Tbh oxygen with propane is the game changer here......or get a cheap welding set

Inductive heater is also "a game changer" - but you need a big - high KW jobby for bolts like this - nailed into a big metal "heatsink".

Don't dismiss a stick welder - ARC plasma temps - 3,500°C to 19,400°C - from the end of 3.2mm MMA rod.

Weld - let it cool - weld again - let it cool again - and repeat - it is the heat cycling - that gets things moving

 

[dobbslc]

Wow I’m surprised that the through bolt was able to go through without the ball joint not fully seated, bad design, what’s was wrong with a large nut on the top!

They had just smashed it through with a hammer, it flattened the bolt all down one side.

 

[steveo3002]

trouble with these fashion cars , so many are owned by people that dont maintain them well

half fancied one for the mrs . but you look at the seller and its some orange bimbo with giant eyebrows and i think nah

 

[AVI_8]

Inductive heater is also "a game changer" - but you need a big - high KW jobby for bolts like this - nailed into a big metal "heatsink".

Don't dismiss a stick welder - ARC plasma temps - 3,500°C to 19,400°C - from the end of 3.2mm MMA rod.

Weld - let it cool - weld again - let it cool again - and repeat - it is the heat cycling - that gets things moving

My mig can do stick welding, I’ve never tried it though, looks like I might need to get it out and do some practice on some scrap metal as I definitely don’t want snapped subframe bolts as well.

 

[Smallfry]

I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the captive nut holds, my worry is that if a big gun didn’t remove the bolt, it will probably mean that the tool I bought to remove the stripped bolt will not have the grip to get the bolt out with a breaker bar, I’m kicking myself now that I didn’t try the breaker bar first. Lessons learned!

TBH I find the rattle gun a double edged sword. Great for easy dismantling, provided the fixings are not too far gone. If they are very seized, they either snap off or round off the head. Sometimes a breaker bar and bit of tube works better as its not so violent, but thats if the fixing is in a position for you to comfortably get your heft behind it.

 

[premmington]

My mig can do stick welding, I’ve never tried it though, looks like I might need to get it out and do some practice on some scrap metal as I definitely don’t want snapped subframe bolts as well.

Subframe bolts on these - are awfull - where they are mounted in the chassis - they just catch and hold water/road salt.

 

[jo1010]

trouble with these fashion cars , so many are owned by people that dont maintain them well

half fancied one for the mrs . but you look at the seller and its some orange bimbo with giant eyebrows and i think nah

Idk...I never even notice the eyebrows

 

[dobbslc]

I can't remember if these bolts have a section of thread that pokes out past the nut on the subframe, it they do then it gets rusted and after coming loose gets stuck half way out.
On these you have to keep tightening them back up and working them back out slowly. If you can get a wire brush on the thread end or squirt it with WD40 to clean the loose rust off that helps.

 

[AVI_8]

I can't remember if these bolts have a section of thread that pokes out past the nut on the subframe, it they do then it gets rusted and after coming loose gets stuck half way out.
On these you have to keep tightening them back up and working them back out slowly. If you can get a wire brush on the thread end or squirt it with WD40 to clean the loose rust off that helps.

Thanks and yes I always do that to rusted bolt ends, unfortunately in this case they’re completely hidden behind the arm itself, all I can do is squirt some penetrant into a tiny gap, I’m going to try heating with the blow torch and cooling with water a few cycles, if that doesn’t work prior to trying the tool when it arrives then it’ll be a crash course on learning stick welding.
If only a stilson socket was a thing!

 

[winchman]

The spiral sockets are much better than stillsons, just tried them on a brake fitting no chance spiral socket gripped it no problem and removed it luckily without snapping

 

[premmington]

The spiral sockets are much better than stillsons, just tried them on a brake fitting no chance spiral socket gripped it no problem and removed it luckily without snapping

I got lots of sets of Irwin ones of these - the trick is to choose the right sized extractor socket.

 

[RWD3M]

I got lots of sets of Irwin ones of these - the trick is to choose the right sized extractor socket.

Yet another tool I didn't realise I needed, thanks!

 

[Nederlands]

In the past i was a pre ww2 car restorer
Mostley english car's

Never used all of the tools mentioned here

Even on a bentley blower, i would weld a nut on it
Almost every time it will come loose on first try.

 

[anto44]

I have a few sets of those extractors and they're great and I use them regularly but they're not capable of transmitting a huge amount of torque. If the rattle gun was firing for 5 seconds before the corners gave up, assuming it rounded because it's really tight and not because the socket is worn it'll probably be too tight for them. They're great for bolts with damaged heads but not if they're damaged from being seized solid.

 

[AVI_8]

Got this out this morning, used several heat cycles with the blow torch until I could not stand the smell of burning rubber any more, then cooled it with water and using the longest breaker bar I have got it turning, it creaked all the way out, was sure it was going to snap, highly recommended these tools, it showed no signs of slipping.
Thanks as usual for all of your comments.

 

[dobbslc]

That's impressive!