How Best to Remove This Stripped Nut From Seat Rail? (pic)

[reesestewww]

While installing my seats on the driver side this nut appears to have stripped and the bolt will not tighten. Any idea's on how to remove this nut so I can replace it with a new one?

Thanks!

[Jose_JGC]

Instead of removing it, I would consider drilling that nut and opening a new thread for a wider bolt.
Jose

[FL911SC]

This may not help, but have you tried using a tread repair tool? This is not to be mistaken for a tap (as in Tap and Die) which is used to cut a new thread. This tool looks like a tap, but is designed to repair an existing but damage tread.
I was adding a strut brace to my car and the first bolt to come out was damaged as were the treads in the bolt hole. I got lucky and found a Snap-On tread repair set on e-Bay(very similar to this Craftsman one) which did the trick. The new bolt went right in and I was able to torque it without issue.
Just a thought to maybe save you some headache.

[Targa Me]

^^^
What he said.
Drill and tap.

[jpnovak]

Is that the tunnel side? I think the nut is welded to the backside of the seat rail mount/tunnel extension.

If you don't want to grind it off and install another one then your only choice is to drill a size larger and retap. You could grind off the nut from the backside and then install a blind capture nut. Make sure to use a steel one.

[vash]

Can't you get to the backside? Drill it out and put a slightly bigger nut and bolt?

[reesestewww]

Originally Posted by jpnovak

Is that the tunnel side? I think the nut is welded to the backside of the seat rail mount/tunnel extension.

If you don't want to grind it off and install another one then your only choice is to drill a size larger and retap. You could grind off the nut from the backside and then install a blind capture nut. Make sure to use a steel one.

Yes it's the tunnel side. I may consider a larger size, just hoping to prevent having to do that. I'd rather 'knock' it off/out somehow and replace with a steel nut.

[reesestewww]

Originally Posted by vash

Can't you get to the backside? Drill it out and put a slightly bigger nut and bolt?

Can't really get to the back side. I can get my fingers on the back side, certainly could not drill it out from the back side.

[scarceller]

Can you time-sert it? Like a helicoil but super duty.
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[KTL]

I would drill it out and use all M8 screws instead of the current M6 size. M6 just seems too small for holding a seat in place.

You can use nut plates underneath the rails like the later cars have. Could make your own out of plate steel.

[dicklague]

Use a Time Sert or a helicoil. they are made to do this type of repair. I would not put in a larger bolt.

[reesestewww]

I ended up tapping the hole which helped a lot. The seat bolt was long enough that I could thread a second nut and tighten the whole thing together. Worked great.

Thank you for all these great ideas. Glad it wasn't a major repair.