No paint damage huh? Well, if I must go that route I guess I will. I'll have to take it to a shop since I have no welding equipment or expertise. Maybe I can keep spraying water to the surrounding area while they weld!
Torx socket broke in screw head!
- Thread starter nitrofalcon
- Start date
No paint damage huh? Well, if I must go that route I guess I will. I'll have to take it to a shop since I have no welding equipment or expertise. Maybe I can keep spraying water to the surrounding area while they weld!
Agree- and I think he needs to go up one size on the Torx bit. Paint tricks ya.
I have got in the habit of setting the socket into the fastener and tapping the end of the socket to achieve full penetration. Also make sure the hole is clean.
This is a common issue. I dealt with it by drilling out several bolt heads which was easier than expected.
The problem, in many cases, is the adhesion between the flange of the bolt head and hinge. This is a high surface area contact between dissimilar metals (steel and aluminum) which leads to a large area of galvanic corrosion. I did use an easy out to remove the bolt shafts once the heads were off but they came out without difficulty (no heat involved). The other bolts came out with a torx driver. Snap-on sells one which is very hard. Although I too had broken a couple of standard torx bits, The Snap-on variant did not break or strip despite my impact driver failing to provided enough torque to get several of them out. Apparently, the previous owner had tried and failed to get them out as well as one had a broken bit in it like the picture you showed.
The problem, in many cases, is the adhesion between the flange of the bolt head and hinge. This is a high surface area contact between dissimilar metals (steel and aluminum) which leads to a large area of galvanic corrosion. I did use an easy out to remove the bolt shafts once the heads were off but they came out without difficulty (no heat involved). The other bolts came out with a torx driver. Snap-on sells one which is very hard. Although I too had broken a couple of standard torx bits, The Snap-on variant did not break or strip despite my impact driver failing to provided enough torque to get several of them out. Apparently, the previous owner had tried and failed to get them out as well as one had a broken bit in it like the picture you showed.
So far I've tried to centering it, center punching to drill it it out, all to no avail! I think the problem is that the torx bit it very hard (heat treated?) and won't be drilled. When trying to centering it with punch or chisel it just keep slipping . Well, the extra large prayer rug didn't help!
Please keep the great suggestions coming. I got to go into town to pick up a part. I live in the mountains.
Please keep the great suggestions coming. I got to go into town to pick up a part. I live in the mountains.
I would use a cobalt bit, general purpose oil on the bit and low speed with some pressure applied to drill out the center of the torx bit. Vary pressure until you get chips instead of dust. Keep pausing to add more oil.
Andy
Andy
For removing bolts I have yet to have this set fail on me.
https://www.harborfreight.com/multi-spline-screw-extractor-set-15-piece-59194.html
I use it with a breaker bar and if necessary a cheater bar over the breaker bar.
Andy
Do you sugg
Do you suggest starting with a small cobalt bit and working my way up op the largest I can? It's worth a shot. Although the problem is when trying to drill the bit will walk and the stuck torx bit is so hard that it can't be enter punched.
Do you suggest starting with a small cobalt bit and working my way up op the largest I can? It's worth a shot. Although the problem is when trying to drill the bit will walk and the stuck torx bit is so hard that it can't be enter punched.
Yeah I have this. But I can't center punch and this will not drill thru the hard steel.
I fear I may be heading in that direction as was suggested by a couple of good folks here!
Take a center punch or a chisel and tap the bit in a clockwise direction to get it loose then use a magnet or pick to remove.
To loosen the bolt heat with a heat gun and use an impact driver it will come right out.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDFP6XT/?tag=wranglerorg-20
I use cobalt bits with cooling oil and slow speed for drilling into hard metals. They are expensive but worth it. Note that they are not coated, the cobalt is all through the metal - much better than a coating IMO.
Yes, start with a small bit.
Andy
Yes, start with a small bit.
Andy
Impact drivers can go two ways - they can take it out or they can destroy the bolt head. With a breaker bar and a cheater bar you can carefully and in a controlled manner apply more torque than an impact wrench. Andy
If I can somehow drill the thru the center with a cobalt bit, then maybe I can either center it and pull it out or, use a bolt extractor to center it. But I done know how to keep the bit from walking if it won't let me center punch it.
Indecently, Once I get the torx bit out
, I plan to heat the bolt with a heat gun, then use an impact wrench (starting at low toque!) and a new torx bit to get the bolt out. Hopefully it will not damage the surrounding paint or anything in the footwell. There's a lot of rubber and plastic on that side.
, I plan to heat the bolt with a heat gun, then use an impact wrench (starting at low toque!) and a new torx bit to get the bolt out. Hopefully it will not damage the surrounding paint or anything in the footwell. There's a lot of rubber and plastic on that side.
Indecently, Once I get the torx bit out
I hope you get the broken torx head out. If you do you might try a manual impact driver. These are way less dangerous than heat and an impact gun. They are about $20 at your local hardware store. They are what windshield replacement companies use to remove the torx head bolts just above the hinges at the windshield. They also have loctite on them. They do this so they don't destroy the paint or strip the torx bolt. It's what I used when I removed those torx heads and it worked for me. YMMV.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDFP6XT/?tag=wranglerorg-20
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