Replacing hatch struts problems

[maxddr19]

I was outside replacing my struts earlier and I was finished with the right side, when I got to the left side, the top bold would come off and the first one on the bottom would come off too, but the second one kinda got rounded off and now I have no idea how to get the stupid thing off.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Maybe cut it off if everything else fails.

 

[TSiAWD666]

I don't know if a bolt extractor would work, but if that doesn't then you may need to have someone weld metal onto the bolt in order to get it out. Don't worry you still have options.

 

[LiquidX]

Get a bolt extractor kit from Sears, they work well. You can also try using locking vice grips.

 

[estoyaqui30]

There are sockets t hat you can get to do that. The first type gets hammered onto the rounded bolt head and the you use a ratchet. Make sure that you keep spraying the hell out of the bolt with liquid wrench..or something like that for a little while before trying. If all else fails drill it out, they are fairly soft, just mild steel. you could also look in a Sears tool department, I'm sure that they have all kinds of cools tools for that.

good luck

 

[Aphix]

If there is enough material, a pair of vise grips has saved me more times than I can count with a broken bolt. Just get it on there as tight as you can, because you usually only have a couple tries at most.

 

[BurrowZ]

Just get a small pair of needle-nose locking vice grips. I say needle nose because I'm not sure off the top of my head of how much room you have to get a nice pair in there.

 

[romeen]

Just get a small pair of needle-nose locking vice grips. I say needle nose because I'm not sure off the top of my head of how much room you have to get a nice pair in there.

Agreed. Also, if you remove the access cover for the rear shocks you can easily feel where the bolt comes through the weld nut(?) underneath. Maybe there is enough of the bolt sticking out past the weld nut to get vice grips on it and turn it from the bottom.

It might be easier to just drill it out. Given it's location it would be very easy to get a drill on there.

 

[livedsm4g63]

Weld on a nut! Probably dont have a welder but I thought Id state it.

 

[ktgurl87]

I'd try the vice grips first. I've gotten quite a few stubborn bolts out with vice grips -nods-

 

[BurrowZ]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but OP stated he "rounded it off." To me this means it didn't break, but rounded the edges off by using and improper socket or slipping the correct socket at an angle and now it won't catch.

Another option for that is to dremel the sides a little until you can get a smaller wrench on there.

But seriously. Needle-nose vice grips.

 

[supermario300hp]

where that bolt is located....id say liquid wrench or pb blaster and vice grips. drilling it out means you gotta tap it and welding it a pain especially if you dont have a welder....just my .02

 

[mattasi]

PB blaster the bolt. Try the vice grips first, if no luck file down the bolt untill you get the next lower size. If no luck after that then in this case, I would drill that out real quick. Take your time with the vice grips I bet you can get that to work.

 

[Mr PopUps]

For reference, at least on the 1G's the lower bolts are a 10mm head and the upper bolt is a T-45 if i remember correctly. Should be the same on a 2G, but its been a long time since ive seen one.