rounded alan key bolt on coilover collar.. ideas please

[danh90]

Was having a look at suspension erlier and was going to lower it 5-10mm managed to do one side but came to the other and the alan key bolt head has slightly rounded off so the alan key wont grab correctly.

ive read about a few methods, hammer a slightly bigger torx bit in till it grips then try that,, also screw extractors cant really see them working though.

anyone got any ideas? surely this has happened to someone else?

dont want to have to drill it out if i can help it

Help appreciated guys..

 

[Dan1587]

Id have a go with the torx idea. That would be my first port of call.

 

[Bluebeard]

Before you do anything, soak it in penetrating fluid and leave it overnight.

 

[danh90]

Before you do anything, soak it in penetrating fluid and leave it overnight.

cheers will this fluid just make it easier to unscrew once left to soak in, never heard of it tbh will your average DIY store sell it, B&Q Wickes ect..

 

[Bluebeard]

Wd40.

It will give you a better starting point. There is no point hammering a torx bit in there if the bolt is siezed as it will either chew the torx bit or the bolt.

If that doesn't work, get a bit of heat in it.

 

[danh90]

No one else ever had This problem? Atm im just going to soak it in WD40 leave it to soak in then try the screwdriver or torx bit method

 

[M@tt_182]

Used that method plenty of times on my old 106, the bolts seemed to be made of cheese!

 

[danh90]

Used that method plenty of times on my old 106, the bolts seemed to be made of cheese!

Hopefully will work will post how it goes

 

[James28]

Yea just try that mate.
If you find its seized, get a blowtorch from Homebase or similar, and heat it up, and repeat.
Quickest easiest way of un-seizing something.

 

[jenic]

As Dan and James have said, heat is a wonder for getting bolts out.

Find out what bolt it is and get a replacement ordered too, as when its out you dont want to be refitting it!

 

[danh90]

so if i just heat the bolt up that will loosen it of for when i try and get it out..

 

[jenic]

Loads of heat, then get something like these on it and ease it loose. Might take a few goes.

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=175968&Referrer=froogle

Thats what I usually do (and had to do yesterday to get a brake nipple out!)

 

[danh90]

Loads of heat, then get something like these on it and ease it loose. Might take a few goes.

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=175968&Referrer=froogle

Thats what I usually do (and had to do yesterday to get a brake nipple out!)

ive got a set of them they wont get in to touch the bolt as its set beneath the surface of the collar.. have you every tried the torx thing mike

 

[mossyv6]

Take the car to your local garage/tyre fitter and get them to buzz gun the strut top off and then slightly tighten up to get you home.

 

[jenic]

ive got a set of them they wont get in to touch the bolt as its set beneath the surface of the collar.. have you every tried the torx thing mike

No mate, the only time I've fucked a torx bolt up I had to go to my uncles so he could weld me a nut on top

 

[danh90]

No mate, the only time I've f**ked a torx bolt up I had to go to my uncles so he could weld me a nut on top

great my last resort is drilling it out dont really want to incase damages the collar hopefully the easier more practical ways will work

 

[slob]

I had similar problem with my motorbike calliper. Tried everything mentioned above in the end I got an old work mate of mine who is a top engineer.

What he done was drill a pilot hole with some kind of stubby drill bit to get started bang centre. He then used a normal drill bit that was a bit smaller than the bolt drilled into it and tapped the outer threads in so they collapsed inwards with with a punch.

We were very lucky and it came out. That is your last option I am afraid like it was my last option before I bought a new calliper , f**king hate these sorts of allen key and torx the just round and shear happens all the time.

 

[James28]

Just do the larger torx bit thing, and heat the area up. This will cause the metal to expand and you should be able to undo it.
It really does work. I'd never used heat on anything before, then I had a seized spacer, and worked wonders.
So yea, I'd heat up the collar/bolt/area around it, and smash a larger torx bolt into it, and then try loosening it.

 

[danh90]

Just do the larger torx bit thing, and heat the area up. This will cause the metal to expand and you should be able to undo it.
It really does work. I'd never used heat on anything before, then I had a seized spacer, and worked wonders.
So yea, I'd heat up the collar/bolt/area around it, and smash a larger torx bolt into it, and then try loosening it.

will give it a go mate have to get a blowtorch this weekend praying it works cba to drill it out

 

[marinemackay2003]

get some loctite freeze and release on it

http://loctitefreezeandrelease.com/

then try get some easy outs on it

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-cobalt-drill-and-easy-out-set-prod462398/

should fly out- em, sort of easy lol

 

[James28]

Providing you manage to get the larger torx bit in properly securely enough, and it bites properly and doesn't slip. No reason why it shouldn't with my method.
I would also spray some WD40/Penetrating lubricant on it a few days before too.

I bought a Blowtorch from homebase the other day. If you were closer I would've lent you it!

 

[Keeks]

not too sure what sort of access to said bolt you have but, when I rounded one of my torx bolts, I found using a hacksaw, cutting a - along it and using a flathead screwdriver worked wonders, still using that bolt to this day!

 

[Dan519]

Try some of this stuff

http://www.loctitefreezeandrelease.com/