Requesting help in removing a bolt with stripped threads

Junta · 08-14-2006, 01:54 AM

Hi guys,

I ran into a little problem over the weekend when trying to install fog lights into my Civic. During the reinstallation of the bumper, I accidentally used the bolt that goes from underneath the car, that holds the splash guard, in the spot where the front grill meets the front bar. Upon doing so, I also stripped the threading of the hole, and now the bolt is stuck. I've tried pulling and turning in hopes that the bolt will catch on some thread, but there has been no success. I've also tried the brute force method of just yanking the bolt out, but that has been unsucessful too. Now I'm stuck with a bolt in the wrong place, and my front bumper is not tightly secured.

My question is, is there any methods of removing the bolt while trying to keep everything intact?

I'm extremely disappointed in my stupidity.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

***CaliGuy*** · 08-14-2006, 02:36 AM

easy out bit?

RITDR · 08-14-2006, 09:29 AM

If you can get a flat screwdriver behind the head of the bolt you may be able to pry back on it a little while trying to remove it.

**ethlar** · 08-14-2006, 10:15 AM

very carefully drill out the middle of the bolt perhaps?

im not sure how to get the bolt out, but i do know you probably will have to retap the hole once its out.

Junta · 08-14-2006, 12:37 PM

Thanks guys. I tried prying out the bolt with a screwdriver and pulling and turning simultaneously, but still no luck. I think I was more afraid of bending the screwdriver shaft. I'll try again with a bigger sized screwdriver perhaps.

If all fails, the best solution is to take it to the dealership probably...

**Silver8th** · 08-14-2006, 12:54 PM

If the the bolt is sticking out maybe a set of Vise Grips will help.

Junta · 08-15-2006, 11:59 PM

Alright, so I decided to take the advice of the members here and the Honda mechanic who also told me to try the screwdriver method. I took a screwdriver with a thick enough shaft, and proceeded to pry and crank with the wrench. After several cranks, the bolt comes flying off, and for a moment, I thought I had succeeded. However, upon closer inspection and to my dismay it turns out I snapped the bolt in half and left the threaded end still stuck in the hole. Oh fluck, now I'm screwed.

Any suggestions short of going to the mechanic now?

***dobiejoe*** · 08-16-2006, 12:27 AM

go to sears and get a 50 dollar specialty extracter set. Thats what you needed in the first place.

***CaliGuy*** · 08-16-2006, 01:00 AM

Get an easy out, as I suggested. It's a drill bit that digs into the bolt and once in you just reverse the drill and it comes right out...well, in theory. In truth they are a bitch to use, but they do work...

Right tool for the right job! Do as I say, not as I do...lol

radiocontrolhead · 08-16-2006, 01:04 AM

i want to knwo, why didnt' u take notes as to what bolt goes wehre? that is RULE NUMBER ONE!

peliROJO · 08-16-2006, 01:12 AM

"my mind playing tricks on me" - Geto Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnRS-3AyGUs - NSFW :)

***CaliGuy*** · 08-16-2006, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peliROJO

"my mind playing tricks on me" - Geto Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnRS-3AyGUs - NSFW :)

The Geto Boys are awsome! I have their greatest hits CD, which also has the DVD with their videos...good stuff man..

OK back to topic

Junta · 08-16-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiocontrolhead

i want to knwo, why didnt' u take notes as to what bolt goes wehre? that is RULE NUMBER ONE!

As I mentioned in the first post...I was extrememly disappointed in my stupidity

RULE NUMBER TWO: Don't be greedy when tightening any screw or bolt. Once it's snug, it's good.

06CivEXJon · 08-16-2006, 03:34 PM

Yeah dont ever overtighten bolts,nuts or screws. I learned my lession after i stripped a bolt before.

televascular · 08-17-2006, 05:42 AM

I would try a combination of heating the thread housing of your bumper and spraying generous amounts of WD-40 into the contact area. You can use a hair dryer to do the heating; do NOT heat the bolt itself!

That's if you want to be anal. If you could somehow get your hands on a pneumatic drill, you could solve your problem in 0.22 seconds. Either way, I think that your bumper's thread will be stripped... your dealer will probably have to install new mounts, or possibly replace your bumper. Of course, you could bootleg the mounts and fabricate some kind of clamp!

Good luck!

08-14-2006, 01:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
Junta Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oakville Age: 27 Posts: 54 iTrader: 2 / 100%	Requesting help in removing a bolt with stripped threads Hi guys, I ran into a little problem over the weekend when trying to install fog lights into my Civic. During the reinstallation of the bumper, I accidentally used the bolt that goes from underneath the car, that holds the splash guard, in the spot where the front grill meets the front bar. Upon doing so, I also stripped the threading of the hole, and now the bolt is stuck. I've tried pulling and turning in hopes that the bolt will catch on some thread, but there has been no success. I've also tried the brute force method of just yanking the bolt out, but that has been unsucessful too. Now I'm stuck with a bolt in the wrong place, and my front bumper is not tightly secured. My question is, is there any methods of removing the bolt while trying to keep everything intact? I'm extremely disappointed in my stupidity. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

08-14-2006, 02:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
*CaliGuy* VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: SoCal Age: 30 Posts: 10,520 J. M. back by popular demand! iTrader: 4 / 100%	easy out bit? __________________ Visit my city! Free vagin for every resident (in direct contrast to the other cities that only provide free Fleshlites!) http://eat-mykhram.myminicity.com/

08-14-2006, 10:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
ethlar n00b retro whore Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 10,832 iTrader: 5 / 100%	very carefully drill out the middle of the bolt perhaps? im not sure how to get the bolt out, but i do know you probably will have to retap the hole once its out. __________________ 8thCivic FAQ\|NEW Marketplace Rules

08-14-2006, 12:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Silver8th Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: GA Posts: 6,818 EARL iTrader: 4 / 100%	If the the bolt is sticking out maybe a set of Vise Grips will help. __________________

08-16-2006, 12:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
*dobiejoe* VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NJ Age: 38 Posts: 4,643 Joe iTrader: 1 / 100%	go to sears and get a 50 dollar specialty extracter set. Thats what you needed in the first place. __________________

08-14-2006, 09:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
RITDR Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 66 iTrader: 2 / 100%	If you can get a flat screwdriver behind the head of the bolt you may be able to pry back on it a little while trying to remove it.

08-14-2006, 12:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
Junta Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oakville Age: 27 Posts: 54 iTrader: 2 / 100%	Thanks guys. I tried prying out the bolt with a screwdriver and pulling and turning simultaneously, but still no luck. I think I was more afraid of bending the screwdriver shaft. I'll try again with a bigger sized screwdriver perhaps. If all fails, the best solution is to take it to the dealership probably...

08-15-2006, 11:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
Junta Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oakville Age: 27 Posts: 54 iTrader: 2 / 100%	Alright, so I decided to take the advice of the members here and the Honda mechanic who also told me to try the screwdriver method. I took a screwdriver with a thick enough shaft, and proceeded to pry and crank with the wrench. After several cranks, the bolt comes flying off, and for a moment, I thought I had succeeded. However, upon closer inspection and to my dismay it turns out I snapped the bolt in half and left the threaded end still stuck in the hole. Oh fluck, now I'm screwed. Any suggestions short of going to the mechanic now?

08-16-2006, 01:00 AM	#9 (permalink)
*CaliGuy* VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: SoCal Age: 30 Posts: 10,520 J. M. back by popular demand! iTrader: 4 / 100%	Get an easy out, as I suggested. It's a drill bit that digs into the bolt and once in you just reverse the drill and it comes right out...well, in theory. In truth they are a bitch to use, but they do work... Right tool for the right job! Do as I say, not as I do...lol __________________ Visit my city! Free vagin for every resident (in direct contrast to the other cities that only provide free Fleshlites!) http://eat-mykhram.myminicity.com/

08-16-2006, 01:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
radiocontrolhead Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, ca Age: 21 Posts: 2,927 Danny iTrader: 0 / 0%	i want to knwo, why didnt' u take notes as to what bolt goes wehre? that is RULE NUMBER ONE!

08-16-2006, 01:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
peliROJO Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: currently in Africa Age: 30 Posts: 1,234 iTrader: 0 / 0%	"my mind playing tricks on me" - Geto Boys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnRS-3AyGUs - NSFW :)

08-16-2006, 03:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
06CivEXJon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Monument/Colorado Springs Colorado Posts: 4,600 Jon iTrader: 0 / 0%	Yeah dont ever overtighten bolts,nuts or screws. I learned my lession after i stripped a bolt before. Last edited by 06CivEXJon; 08-17-2006 at 01:49 PM.

08-17-2006, 05:42 AM	#15 (permalink)
televascular Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 276 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I would try a combination of heating the thread housing of your bumper and spraying generous amounts of WD-40 into the contact area. You can use a hair dryer to do the heating; do NOT heat the bolt itself! That's if you want to be anal. If you could somehow get your hands on a pneumatic drill, you could solve your problem in 0.22 seconds. Either way, I think that your bumper's thread will be stripped... your dealer will probably have to install new mounts, or possibly replace your bumper. Of course, you could bootleg the mounts and fabricate some kind of clamp! Good luck!

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