What socket / bit / dynamite do I need to remove this bolt? Bearing Axle bolt.

[nepersonne]

I know from the write ups it should be a 17mm allen. But the inside is rounded smooth. The outside doesn't seem to have anywhere for a socket. Am I fubar'd or missing something?

A4 B6 quattro.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/usa69p0x8o...95328.jpg?dl=0

[agentsmith988]

Have you tried pounding an allen into the socket to see if it loosens up the rust? But from the looks it appears that someone rounded it out pretty well...

[elewsader]

you've got a long road ahead, you're going to need to get really creative with how much torque that bolt is secured with.

[john_gonzo]

Those bolts are single use only, not that you'd want to install it again, so a couple options...

1. Pipe wrench. Big one, with cheater pipe over the handle.
2. Weld a bar of steel directly onto the nut. Turn bar with pipe. (This method may put excessive heat into the wheel bearing.)

[hightime80]

Air hammer that SOB out!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-QcTVdR_EjM

[19jdog]

17mm socket, lots of penetrating oil, and a breaker bar. I use a long 1 inch pipe on the end of my 1/2 inch socket wrench.

If its rounded it might be stripped out. Then you are replacing the whole assembly

Good luck!!

[Kevin C]

Make two cuts in the bolts flange using a cutoff wheel. That's enough to loosen it so that it just about falls out. Odds are you will nick the hub.

That's how I got my stuck bolt out when nothing else worked. Mine was a 17mm Allen ... Not rounded out, just trusted in.

[Kevin C]

Air hammer that SOB out!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-QcTVdR_EjM

Nice!

[hightime80]

Nice!

Thx. Works good if you got an good air hamer. Ask me how I know😝

[nepersonne]

Well, might have to see about renting an air hammer!

[hightime80]

Air tools are a good investment if u live in the salt belt like I do. Check your local harbor freight. Here's the one I have. Reasonably priced and does the job well.
http://m.harborfreight.com/21-gal-25...not%20provided

[nepersonne]

In doing this did that allow you to use a wrench or did you just slip the hub off of it?

[hightime80]

You are supposed to chissel it off like the video shows.

[OttawaWill]

Air hammer. Might consider using a blunt tip opposed to a chisel bit that will cut chunks off.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[userbob0001]

I usually put a jack handle on the end of a breaker bar so I have about 3 feet of leverage. I don't remember why I couldn't use a wrench one time, but I've drilled it out before. Once the head pops, the shaft is only finger tight.

[SJorge3442]

Damn, thats a tough situation. I would probably attempt welding a nut to the bolt head. If that didnt work, then I'd be SOL as I wouldn't know how else to go at this.

[MacFady]

Looking at yours specifically I think I'd jump right to welding a large nut on it and using a breaker bar with a pipe attached. That thing is completely round. I'm guessing (hopefully not) that you will end up breaking the head off the rest of the bolt with whatever method you use though. If so, I'd start by punching a divit directly in the center, then drilling, slowly stepping up the size until just slightly smaller than the bolt (threaded portion obviosuly). At this point, if you have a bolt extractor that size, I'd try torching the bolt, hitting it with penetrant, then giving the extractor a go. Keep a close eye on the extractor if you use one because those axle bolts are 140lb/ft plus 180 degree turn (something like that), if itstarts to twist on itself stop, if you break a bolt extractor off you are really going to be cursing because you wont be drilling that out. If it doesn't work, then continue to drill and re-tap the hole.

Just last weekend I was doing rear sway bar bushings and end links. Everything was coming apart very easily but when I got to the last end link, both bolt heads holding the mount broke off. I had to drill and retap both, bolt extractor did not work, not fun. BTW, nice vid with the air hammer, great idea. I tried dremeling a large slot in both bolts using a cutoff wheel so I could use a slot driver on a air gun but it just ended up peeling it down like a banana. The air hammer idea has a much better chance.