Stripped seized bold head :(

[johnc86]

I was changing the brake discs but I have made a mess of one of the bolts holding on the anchor plate to the hub. Its basically rounded off completely. I have been tapping it with a hammer and bolster trying to tease it off but dont want to damage anything so Iv just left it alone for tonight.

Its so frustrating because the job is straight forward otherwise . If I could get this bolt of the disc would have came free and Id be home and dry now.

So obviously I will need a new bolt once I get the knackered one out (where from? Cheap?).

How will I get this bolt out? I have a blow torch so could apply heat if necessary. The 13mm socket just goes round freely on the bolt head now. It wont bite on at all .

Suggestions? Help much appreciated. I need the car back on the road and dont want to have to go to a garage tail between my lges when I am so nearly there

 

[Burnerman]

I'm not too sure what you mean by the 'anchor plate' John, but is it the caliper holding bracket you refer to - two bolts to allow the disc to come free from the hub? A pic could help here.....
Anyway, consider bashing on a socket thats the next size smaller - maybe an imperial size?
Heat is also great if its the bolt I'm thinking of - it softens up the bolt locking compound.
John

 

[johnc86]

I'm not too sure what you mean by the 'anchor plate' John, but is it the caliper holding bracket you refer to - two bolts to allow the disc to come free from the hub? A pic could help here.....
Anyway, consider bashing on a socket thats the next size smaller - maybe an imperial size?
Heat is also great if its the bolt I'm thinking of - it softens up the bolt locking compound.
John

Hi mate I followed this guide its for a slightly older car but its not much different: http://www.fiestaguides.co.uk/content/front_brakes.html

Here's what it says about it:

To get the actual disc off you will need to remove the anchor plate from the hub,
this is done by removing two 17mm bolts, then the plate will drop off and the disc be pulled off.

I'm pretty sure the 17mm bolts that refers to are the same as on mine but mine are 13mm.

 

[johnc86]

I cant get a smaller socket on I tried that

 

[Avocet]

Are your sockets the sort that have fairly fine serrations round the endges (about 18 or so)? If so, they're horrible because they drive on the corners of the bolt head and round them off. You really need good quality hexagonal sockets or, better still, "face-drive" or "flank drive" sockets. A good set of those might still get it off even now.

Also, if they're 13mm, do you have an imperial sockets? 1/2" is 12.7mm, so just a tiny bit smaller than 13mm - you might be able to hammer one of those on.

 

[kenmac]

A set like this will do it, one of the only removal tools that work 100% (if you can get it on the head)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Irwin-Bolt-Grip-Remover-Expansion/dp/B000QW6K8I

 

[Burnerman]

Certainly there are some ideas there.......
However, at the moment your car is still driveable so you may want to take it to a garage but - if you want to continue it looks like you may have to remove the bolt head with an angle grinder, remove the caliper bracket and you'll be left with a stub about 20mm long.
Getting loads of heat in there and a good purchase with some Mole grips I reckon it will come out - it will of course turn in both directions to get started.
I don't remember any of these bolts being 13mm head though
John

 

[Belle427]

heat is the key as suggested, the threadlock can be a nightmare sometimes
halfords may have a socket on the shelves to remove damaged bolts but as john suggested you may be better off grinding the head off, your going to need a new bolt anyway.

 

[johnc86]

Are your sockets the sort that have fairly fine serrations round the endges (about 18 or so)? If so, they're horrible because they drive on the corners of the bolt head and round them off. You really need good quality hexagonal sockets or, better still, "face-drive" or "flank drive" sockets. A good set of those might still get it off even now.

Also, if they're 13mm, do you have an imperial sockets? 1/2" is 12.7mm, so just a tiny bit smaller than 13mm - you might be able to hammer one of those on.

Hi mate thanks for the reply. What did the damage was a hexagonal one. I think it was actually 1/2 imperial. The socket wasn't the best quality - something I didn't realise - and it actually split around its sides! So I bought a good quality 13mm which has the serrations you mentioned. This took the other bolt off 1st attempt but the top one was already too far gone. Its basically a circle now with chunks out of it from me trying get it out with hammer taps with a bolster.

Iv been looking at the Irwin bolt extraction sockets but there pricey and I cant get them local. Plus I need the car tomorrow so it needs to be finished tonight.

Iv made enquiries to get the new bolt I just need to get the old one out!

At the moment I'm leaning towards angle grinder and then grips to get the old bolt out.

Thanks for the wealth of knowledge and kind help from everyone so far. feel free to keep it coming

 

[johnc86]

In case I don't go down the angle grinder route - a nut splitter seems a much cheaper option than the Irwin bolt removers. Are these any good?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You could try grinding a flat onto opposite sides then use an open ended or adjustable spanner.

Or weld a nut on if you're handy with a welder.

If it comes to it rather than grinding the head off I'd drill a hole down the centre the same dia or slightly smaller than the thread, that would be easier than grinding the whole head off.

 

[johnc86]

Another question! The scrap yard guy say's that if he doesn't if he doesn't have the exact bolt from a mark 5 fiesta he can get me one from another ford from a calliper bracket. Would this be OK?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Just take the good old bolt along for comparison. Moot point till you get it off though.

 

[johnc86]

You could try grinding a flat onto opposite sides then use an open ended or adjustable spanner.

I couldn't get an adjustable spanner on it before it was rounded unfortunately. 13mm is a small fiddly size in that respect . I thought about filing all the sides down to smaller socket size perhaps but that would take to long and be so cumbersome to achieve that it wouldnt be worth it when the bolt wont be going back on anyway.

Cheers anyway though.

 

[johnc86]

You could try grinding a flat onto opposite sides then use an open ended or adjustable spanner.

Or weld a nut on if you're handy with a welder.

If it comes to it rather than grinding the head off I'd drill a hole down the centre the same dia or slightly smaller than the thread, that would be easier than grinding the whole head off.

God welding a nut on would get it off so easy! . first thing I thought...... unfortunately iv never welded anything in my life .

I'm not sure Id be able to get at it with drill as room might be a bit tight. Also I don't know if it trust myself to get it perfectly straight and might mess up the internal thread.

I would have thought an angle grinder would make easy work of the bolt head? The Id have the holding plate out of the way to allow me a bit more purchase on the out to try and get it out????