Stripped torx bolt

[Blade1668]

Oh I can and have felt the pain of this.... especially the F###### ones used for seat and seat belts on XJ's and MJ's a stripped T-55 me not wanting to burn up seat, seat belt and carpet or for the matter the whole vehicle. I'd even snapped off bits of known quality then it stripped.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Oh I can and have felt the pain of this.... especially the F###### ones used for seat and seat belts on XJ's and MJ's a stripped T-55 me not wanting to burn up seat, seat belt and carpet or for the matter the whole vehicle. I'd even snapped off bits of known quality then it stripped.

Often the seat belt bolts go through the floor tunnel and have the ends exposed below, or, those that go into the sill area have the ends in the box formed by the sill, and rocker panel, etc.
The ones in the middle you can get to the bottom end of the bolt and clean things up and even spray - those in the sill area you have to get creative. Sometimes you can pull scuff plates (sill guard) or interior panels and shoot panther piss at the back end of the bolt. And sometimes, carpet has held moisture against the bolt where it enters the body........ not fun.

 

[Blade1668]

Often the seat belt bolts go through the floor tunnel and have the ends exposed below, or, those that go into the sill area have the ends in the box formed by the sill, and rocker panel, etc.
The ones in the middle you can get to the bottom end of the bolt and clean things up and even spray - those in the sill area you have to get creative. Sometimes you can pull scuff plates (sill guard) or interior panels and shoot panther piss at the back end of the bolt. And sometimes, carpet has held moisture against the bolt where it enters the body........ not fun.

All the dang bolts was stuck in the folded sheet metal body inclosed to hold water to rust.. I'd spent the $$s buying quality tools USA made from Snap-On or Mac dealer then snapping them like nothing. no easy way to throw some heat on it at the time or location. My LJ had one stripped Torx head bolt from factory. I found it when I was removing rear seat belts. Probably a worn out tool when installed. I can say I've had bad luck with propane torches, better with Oxy Acetylene or welder. welding method even breaks down lock-tite and paint bonding. A favorite one of mine is called angel piss by Mark Novak but damn good on really small threaded stuff. "Firearms" related typically I've not tried it on many automobile related things but might be something for some of your projects. You probably know of and have it already.

Dang I'm side tracking this thread now. ? ?

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Dremel slots into the bolt head, then snap off each section.

Remove the other bolt and you have the hinge out of the way.

May be able to grab the protruding part of the bolt with vice grips once the hinge is removed.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'd rather use Vise Grips as I have too many vices as it is..... just messing around.......

 

[alwhite]

So i figured i would let some pros handle this, but a mechanic and a couple of recommended body shop guys couldn't get it. I got some different bolt extractors (not the easy out variety) and started drilling.

Good news is, i got the bolt head out in about 20 min. Bad news, i drilled a bit too deep and off center. Now I've got about half the bolt still in the floating plate that holds the threads. The bolt isn't broken off evenly either so I can't drill into it.

Three bolts will have to hold that hinge until i can figure something out, but i think it's ok for now.

Also, the amount of loctite on that particular built was way more than all the other hinge bolts.

 

[jeepers29]

So i figured i would let some pros handle this, but a mechanic and a couple of recommended body shop guys couldn't get it. I got some different bolt extractors (not the easy out variety) and started drilling.

Good news is, i got the bolt head out in about 20 min. Bad news, i drilled a bit too deep and off center. Now I've got about half the bolt still in the floating plate that holds the threads. The bolt isn't broken off evenly either so I can't drill into it.

Three bolts will have to hold that hinge until i can figure something out, but i think it's ok for now.

Also, the amount of loctite on that particular built was way more than all the other hinge bolts.

Any pics?

 

[alwhite]

Any pics?

Can't take see it, but it's in there. Went ahead and put the step on with three bolts

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Also, the amount of loctite on that particular built was way more than all the other hinge bolts.

Thread locker - that's why I figured your options were limited. (it wasn't going to just screw out when the head was off, and had doubts about chisel and solvents ain't gonna touch it as it ain't rusted, but hey, try it all)
Heat was about the only way to break the hold on that thing - one of those inductive heaters.

https://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Buster-BB2-ACC-Handheld-Induction/dp/B00ATSL7VE

Get to the back side and take that plate out (if you can access it realistically) - then mill the rest of the bolt out or replace the plate.

 

[Trauma PA]

Can't take see it, but it's in there. Went ahead and put the step on with three bolts

I don’t know how you are sleeping at night. I’d be a freaking mess.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

The obvious answer to your troubles is to give it an eye patch, mustache, little beard, and super cool pirate name

 

[alwhite]

I don’t know how you are sleeping at night. I’d be a freaking mess.

Oh it's not great. Trying to figure out how to access the back side of the plate now

 

[joeym7]

Well, i screwed up. Installing door hinge steps and got 7 of the 8 out no problems. The last one stripped unbelievably badly. I tried to drill it with an extractor, but that isn't working and now i just have a mess. Any ideas on what to do next?

The Torx started to become popular on premium firarm some time ago - they are much, much, easier to strip vs say hex. I think which ever engineer designed them should be "drawn and quartered" ;-).

 

[dcmdon]

So i figured i would let some pros handle this, but a mechanic and a couple of recommended body shop guys couldn't get it. I got some different bolt extractors (not the easy out variety) and started drilling.

Good news is, i got the bolt head out in about 20 min. Bad news, i drilled a bit too deep and off center. Now I've got about half the bolt still in the floating plate that holds the threads. The bolt isn't broken off evenly either so I can't drill into it.

Three bolts will have to hold that hinge until i can figure something out, but i think it's ok for now.

Also, the amount of loctite on that particular built was way more than all the other hinge bolts.

Don't forget that you can always drill it out BIG and then put in a helicoil.

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