bonehead move on seat removal

djm8400 · 11-28-2011, 04:31 PM

Hi all- hoping someone can bail me out of a self-imposed disaster here... I was removing the seats in my 88 Carrera to swap in some Recaros but ended up stripping 3 of the allen bolts. Doh! (Did the factory use locktite? The bolts were absurdly tight.) I know one trick is to use a slightly larger star socket in an allen bolt, but there's really no space to get a ratchet in there. Another trick is using an oversizing socket, but besides lacking space for the ratchet, the rails are so close to those bolts that the socket itself wouldn't clear either. Anyone have a suggestion?

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

You may be stuck using a cold chisel and a hammer. Hit the head at an angle so the chisel can catch and rotate the head that way.
I had to do that on my 86 cab where the bolts were under the seat and there was not enough clearance to use the a drill on the head.

Rich Lambert · Rich Lambert's Garage

Allen wrenches have a slight taper at the ends. Try cutting an end off above the taper...there might be enough meat left on the bolt to grab.

ShakinJoe · 11-28-2011, 05:02 PM

Take the chisel and with the edge bang more material in the Allen hole then use Allen wrench. Same thing happened to me. Have more patience than I did.

Winter · 11-28-2011, 05:15 PM

maybe use some liquid wrench on the suckers before trying anything (assuming you've removed the carpet, or put some plastic or other protective material down to ensure that the mess you create will be disposed of properly)

Good luck!

Justin@Athens · Justin@Athens's Garage

There are SEVERAL threads on this subject already.

Three items of note:

1.Now is a good time to invest in rounded head allen keys/hex wrenches.

2.Pro-Grabbit @ Lowes and HD work well.

3.This tool helped me alot. You will need to fabricate your own hex bit out of a reqular L-shaped allen key to use it though--but its well worth your time.

Ratcheting Squeeze Wrench Kit

4. Hammer, chisel, and dremel tool also are options.

Richard Burns · Richard Burns's Garage

Try using an allen key socket & extension. Start at the back of the seat with it moved as far forward as you can get it the socket type allen key will fit. Put the socket on the extension fit it into the bolt then with a hammer hit it into the head of the bolt then without removing the socket turn it using a ratchet tool. Do not rush it and if you want to, use something like WD40 or even Rost off ice to help loosen the bolts.

Richard.

MMiller · 11-30-2011, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin@Athens

There are SEVERAL threads on this subject already.

Three items of note:

1.Now is a good time to invest in rounded head allen keys/hex wrenches.

2.Pro-Grabbit @ Lowes and HD work well.

3.This tool helped me alot. You will need to fabricate your own hex bit out of a reqular L-shaped allen key to use it though--but its well worth your time.

Ratcheting Squeeze Wrench Kit

4. Hammer, chisel, and dremel tool also are options.

# 4 is what I had to resort to.......its a bummer but seems to be a common problem.

Good luck

Mike

djm8400 · 11-30-2011, 12:26 PM

to clarify then, I'm banging a chisel into the center of the bolt head at an angle with a hammer, and that will bite into the bolt enough that I can turn the chisel and thus the bolt?... sorry to be dense, but I'm having trouble visualizing.

MMiller · 11-30-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djm8400

to clarify then, I'm banging a chisel into the center of the bolt head at an angle with a hammer, and that will bite into the bolt enough that I can turn the chisel and thus the bolt?... sorry to be dense, but I'm having trouble visualizing.

I used chisel, die grinder and drill to remove enough of the head/all of the head of the bolt and then punched the remaining out the bottom. In my mind if it did not break loose with the allen then you might never turn it with a chisel. It is a messy job and there is no turning back but get the seat out of the way as much as possible and attack the bolt head. As someone mentioned below you might try attacking with chisel at an angle and see if you can turn it...if not just remove the whole head.

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by djm8400

to clarify then, I'm banging a chisel into the center of the bolt head at an angle with a hammer, and that will bite into the bolt enough that I can turn the chisel and thus the bolt?... sorry to be dense, but I'm having trouble visualizing.

Yes, that is pretty much it. I had to remove almost half of my passenger seat bolts that way, while I was able to drill through the heads of others as I had more clearance.