Getting off rounded bolts?

BMCC · Post by **BMCC** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:26 pm

Went to fit some new front brake pads but failed to get off the bottom caliper bolt as it was just rounding on me. How do you all go about getting these off?

I thought about this has anyone tried these?:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... -040214679

vtectom · Post by **vtectom** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:35 pm

I had this once & banged on a spanner that was 1mm smaller than the correct one. It did the trick.

Post by **rob quilter** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:38 pm

^A set of those should be in everyones toolbox!

They have always worked great for me, when I fitted the new exhaust to my CRX one of the bolts was rounded off. Whipped out the my bolt grip set out, and it came off straight away.

You get a bolt grip that's slightly smaller than the rounded off bolt, kebab it on with a hammer, then grab a spanner and undo the bolt.

littlefeller · Post by **littlefeller** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:09 pm

these are best, everyone should have a set of these, or just a 12-14mm one like this

i have tried to explain these in other threads but my description is prob crap

By littlefeller2010 at 2012-07-01

ziyaan · Post by **ziyaan** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:31 pm

there is a set of spanners u can get i think machine mart do them for rounded bolts

you could also weld another bolt on??

trick is to never use hex sockets
and always make sure the socket u use has no play and it secure fit

give the socket a couple of bang with a hammer when it is over the bolt shocks the bolt so it comes off nice and easy..

kernow_lude · Post by **kernow_lude** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:45 pm

Post by **Vtecmec** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:49 pm

I use imperial sockets for rounded nuts, size wise most of them sit in between metric sizes so you can get one just a shade smaller than what now won't work, just hammer one on and wind it off.

h10ndr · Post by **h10ndr** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:37 pm

Yes - yes - IRWIN 5 piece set.

I bought a set to remove a seized and rounded brake caliper bleed bolt. Worked on first attempt!! They grab the nut and bite into it - I wasn't expecting them to work so well. I bought a set (5) off amazon having read the reviews. I'm confident they will undo anything now.

Bio · Post by **Bio** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:39 pm

Alternative is to cut a slot for a flat blade in it with something like a dremel and see if you can get it out that way. However if you rounded it off chances are you wont get it out with a flat blade

Additionally giving everything a good squirt of penetrating oil like plusgas over the course of a week before you want to do the work helps a lot.

Need to get me some of those bolt grabbers though, they look handy!

BlackShadow · Post by **BlackShadow** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:44 pm

I have a product similar to the one linked in the first post. It was invaluable when doing my brakes. I had one bolt that was seized solid and rounded off completely. I had others that were threatening to follow suit. I picked up a kit similar to that and had the rounded off bolt out in the blink of an eye. The others were a piece of cake as well. The best thing was, it didn't completely ruin the other bolts, so I only had to replace the one that I rounded off.

I'd say if you do enough work on your car to justify spending the money on a kit like that, go for it. If its a one off thing, the other tricks will work out as well.