Removing stripped CV joint bolts?

[makaio]

I have been working on my 78 all day getting it ready for my first engine drop & I'm hung up on my last 4 CV joint bolts. They're stripped out pretty good, and I'm open to sugestions on how to remove them.

I thought about grinding a grove in the head and trying to turn it with my impact driver, but I'm curious as to how others have handled this.

BTW: I searched but couldn't find anything in the arcives.

[don911]

I used a vice grip to remove the ones that stripped on me.

[supdaf]

I have had sucess using a pipe wrench.

[911mot]

If the Allen head has worn away try hammering a torx socket in there

[hahnmgh63]

I too have had luck with using vice grips. In a tight location I have also had luck grinding a slot or using a chisel to make a slot then using a impact hammer wrench. Try the Vice grips first. MGH

[1fastredsc]

I've used a vice as well, but usually need assitance from someone one with popeye sized forarms to lock down the vise tight enough to turn it.

[ChrisBennet]

Forgive me if this is one of those "well duh!" comments:

If you've removed all the CV bolts but one (or two) that remaining bolt is all that's holding the joint together. The CV joint is attempting to separate and in the process is it's trying bend the bolt. Putting a bolt or two back into the CV to hold it together will remove the extra strain on the "stuck" bolt.

-Chris

[PCA7GGR]

I use an air chisel to notch the head and than position the air chisel so that it spins it off with the hammering action. Apply pressure agains the bolt head so that you reduce the chance of the chhisel jumping and scaring the CV. Good Luck.

[randywebb]

Chris has a good point.

Also, use Kroil, etc. on it before doing anything potentially drastic.

[widebody911]

The last time I had this happen, I couldn't get vice grips on the head very well (trans cooler was in the way) so I used an air-powered body saw to cut the head off the bolt, then pulled the CV off, then removed the rest of the bolt with vice grips.

[ipapilot]

I basically did the same thing as Thom... I had one bolt on each side that needed to be cut off if I remember correctly. I used a cutoff wheel on my die grinder and it solved the problem pretty easily.

[makaio]

Originally posted by ChrisBennet
Forgive me if this is one of those "well duh!" comments:

If you've removed all the CV bolts but one (or two) that remaining bolt is all that's holding the joint together. The CV joint is attempting to separate and in the process is it's trying bend the bolt. Putting a bolt or two back into the CV to hold it together will remove the extra strain on the "stuck" bolt.

-Chris

No problem Chris. I have a total of four bolts stuck, two on the trans side and two on the wheel side, on the same axle.

Thanks for the replies.

[makaio]

I go them out with a small pipe wrench. Worked like a charm.