Stripped Drive shaft bolt head

[Adelgigs]

All,

I've got a stripped allen head in one of my drive shaft bolts - I've tried multigrips but they won't hold.

Any other smart idea's before I get the angle grinder out ???

Thanks, Simon

[1bar]

I had this one bad when I pulled my engine for the first time. I tried the heat on, heat off routine, and the vice grips on the outside routine. No joy.

What finally worked for me was grinding a slot in the head of the allen bolt, and fashioning a tool from a hardened chisel (with the angle grinder) to mate with the slot. The chisel shaft had hex flats, so I used a (metric ) adjustable wrench to turn it (with heat and banging).

It came off - but we spent 6 hours on that one bolt. I wish you luck - you're going to need it.

Larry

[HawgRyder]

I think I posted this before...but...
There are tools that are hex and tapered at the same time.
The idea is to drive the tool into the worn hex receptacle and turn it out with that.
You might also try heat and an impact driver with that type of tool.
Good luck.
Bob

[88911coupe]

I wonder if you may try to bevel off the edge of a slightly larger allen wrench and then jam it into the bolt. Then you could use an adjustable wrench to turn it.
Good Luck,

[cary]

Angle grinder or a Dremel tool. Slide the CV out the bolt. Grap on to the b**** with your Vise Grips to loosen and remove it.
7 - 8 minutes tops.

[ChrisBennet]

If the stripped bolt is the only one left in the CV joint, put one or more of the others back so the stripped bolt isn't being stressed.
-Chris

[Adelgigs]

Got the sucker out.

My local P mechanic suggested filling the hex hole with valve grinding paste, then hammer the correct size hex socket into the hole. Just for good measure I also clamped on the multigrips. It came out first pop.

The grinding paste is very course and doesn't squeeze out when pressured. It worked a treat.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

Cheers, Simon