DV bolt stripped. Any ideas?

[wjg22]

I spent about an hour under my car today trying to remove the second of three bolts holding the DV in place, but it is totally stripped. Neither the 5mm hex bit on a socket wrench nor an Allen key can get the sucker to budge.

Has anyone dealt with this before and come up with a solution? I'm using ramps to get under the car, and not sure that I could fit a drill up there to blast through the top of the bolt even if I wanted to.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

[i3oricua]

Lowe's carries the tool in the link below. I haven't done a DV in a long time but this may fit up there and help you out.

http://www.irwin.com/tools/browse/sc...olt-extractors

[ixi]

I've had good luck with pounding a socket over the outside of the striped bolt, should work in this situation just fine.

edit: I guess you don't have much room to 'pound in a socket'. I remember doing this job and it was very tight. At least you can take the bumper off and get to it easier if necessary. Allen bolts should be outlawed.

[wjg22]

Yeah it is a tight space, especially without a lift. I hadn't thought of trying to smash a socket over it, but it's worth a shot. If that doesn't work then I'll look into one of those bolt extractors. I just wonder how well something like that would grab on, since the outer surface of the bolt is round


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

[mtroxel]

I think the bottom line is you're going to have to R&R the bumper, remove the radiator and condenser so you can get at it. At the point, you can just grind/drill the head of that bolt off. The worst that could happen is you grind into the DV you're about to throw away.

[wjg22]

That's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that. I read through the timing belt service diy, does the coolant have to be replaced with new or can you reuse what's drained out?


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

[mtroxel]

...does the coolant have to be replaced with new or can you reuse what's drained out?

Bentley say to replace. I drain into a clean bucket, then put a piece of clean, old t-shirt over the funnel when I pour it back in. Done that for about 15 years on various Audi's. Never had a problem.

[i3oricua]

Yeah it is a tight space, especially without a lift. I hadn't thought of trying to smash a socket over it, but it's worth a shot. If that doesn't work then I'll look into one of those bolt extractors. I just wonder how well something like that would grab on, since the outer surface of the bolt is round

Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

I've used these extractors on tons of stripped bolts, especially of the allen head variety, its worked every single time. Trust me, save yourself a lot of extra effort, buy the extractor, take one of the old bolts with you go and buy a new one while you're at Lowes (you could use it as a reference while you're there to make sure the extractor fits over it too) and you'll be all done.

[wjg22]

I'm going to try an extractor first, and if that doesn't work I'll remove the bumper and radiator and drill it off from that side. I'd like to try an extractor on the fuel pump pressure release valve anyway, since that's stripped all to hell too.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

[PenTico]

Same thing happened to me recently. The top bolt was rusty and stripped. Put the car in service position as it was the only way to hammer in a torx bit and extract the bolts. Just no room in there.

[00_Bora]

x2 on the extractor. My trans mount bolts were stripped and that Irwin extractor saved my ass. Hex bolts are the worst...

[Sanjman]

Which bolt is it? I agree with taking the radiator off to give yourself space. But you can try the bolt extractor first. I would get a cheap AutoZone wrench to stick in the extension and use that as a lever for a hammer. Unfortunately those bolts are round and not hex nut style like some others on our vehicle

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk

[wjg22]

It's the second one up, if you're looking from underneath the car. I ordered some replacement bolts and will try an extractor first. Irwin doesn't seem to have one for 5mm Allen bolts on their website, so I may just go to lowes and see what they have in stock. I already tried using a torx bit in there to get some extra grip but I have no room to hammer anything into the bolt


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

[i3oricua]

It's the second one up, if you're looking from underneath the car. I ordered some replacement bolts and will try an extractor first. Irwin doesn't seem to have one for 5mm Allen bolts on their website, so I may just go to lowes and see what they have in stock. I already tried using a torx bit in there to get some extra grip but I have no room to hammer anything into the bolt


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

As long as you can get it snugly over the head the extractor will grab on when start to loosen the bolt. It has some killer teeth on it that will grab. Trust me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk