Stuck on some stripped bolts!

[jmatyas]

So i go out to take off my front bumper to start getting my fmic put on and all the bolts are rounded off and stripped. I have not touched the bumper yet so some idiot decided to go ape sh*t on it i guess. Anyone have any ideas how to take it off? I'm stumped.

Already tried: Vice grips...nope. Pliers....nope. About to just hammer a 3/8th socket on those and go to town. What do you guys think?

 

[ziggo0]

The bolts on the fender?

 

[jmatyas]

Those and the ones in the engine bay. I don't know who had this car before me but man its sloppy.

Do you think the craftsman damaged bolt remover kit would work on there or do i have enough room to use them?

 

[Redwidow]

That might work. I would just soak them in PB Blaster or something like that, and then pound on the next size smaller socket and they should come out

 

[jimmythesaint]

Those and the ones in the engine bay. I don't know who had this car before me but man its sloppy.

Do you think the craftsman damaged bolt remover kit would work on there or do i have enough room to use them?

Yeah the Craftsman bolt extractors are quality pieces if not a little bulky. Its worth a try. You other options are to hammer on a smaller socket and probably destroy the socket or to drill them out. Either route you choose, go to your local Nut and Bolt store and replace them once you get them out.

Personally, Id go for the extractor set as you dont know what else the previous owner completly ruined for you using the wrong tool for the job.

 

[fullCircle]

use a cutoff wheel and cut a slot into the head and use a flat screwdriver to remove if possible.

 

[jmatyas]

I thought about the slot/screwdriver idea but the bolts would either ruin the screwdriver under torque or probably wouldn't move at all. I might try that if all else fails. But that's the last option i think.

 

[knieghtz]

I know how you feel, i keep running into half assed crap on my ride.

 

[thomcasey]

What about using a dremmel to clean up the sides of the bolts for the socket?

 

[muleunit]

can you weld a nut on top of the old ones?

 

[jmatyas]

Update: The craftsman damaged bolt off kit worked wonders. First try on every bolt. Thanks for the help everyone

 

[phantom_19]

i always take a drill..and drill it out..a bit smaller than the diameter of the bolt.