Removing a stripped CV joint bolt
 

I’m in the process of removing my engine. Thanks to the great technical article on Pelican, everything was going great. Then, I got to a CV joint bolt (one of those 8mm triple-square head jobbies) that had been completely stripped by the previous owner… just about perfectly smooth.

Assuming that he stripped it coming out, I can’t even imagine why he wouldn't have purchased a new bolt or how he managed to tighten it.

At any rate, what’s the best way to get the booger out? Thanks for any advice.

vice grips

Yep, either vice grips or a dremel. You can cut the head off and then remove the rest of the bolt after the CV joint is out of the way.
Vice grips are easier if it isn't killer tight.

Hmm... I tried vice grips, but it didn't seem like I had clearance to get a good bite. I'll try again tomorrow, I guess.

If your vice grips are older, ie. doesn't have sharp teeth, use a file and sharpen the teeth. I had to remove all my CV bolts using vice grips. Good luck, not much fun.

Pritchard

Vice Grips. If they aren't good and new, buy some new ones. They're very handy. Use your old ones for nasty jobs like holding something whill heating it with a torch.

Took mine out with a dremel tool. Cut the head off and the rest came out with my fingers.

Step 1:
Make sure you're using the correct 12 pointed key, and not a Hex/allen/6 sided POS... DONT ask how I know.
Step 2:
Pound a small spare 10mm (IIRC) socket, preferablly a 12 pt., on the cv bolt head.
Rachet off.

Needle nose vise grips work even better. I replaced all of mine with socket head screws (same strength) and now I can use a standard metric allen head socket. I know the "Porsche Gods" will get me for destroying their design, but it does make them easier to remove and torque.

air chisel

Never managed to make the vice grips work. But, I borrowed a very small stilson wrench, and it came right out.