I'm "screwed"

[BimmerLearner]

I swapped my exhaust back,took off the mount at the rear to make it easier, tightening up i think i cross threaded the bolt.

Right now it wont go any tighter or loosen up at about 3/4 the way in, the 8mm socket spins like the head is stripped,ugh.

Any ideas? exhaust is slightly low at the tips;will this cause any damage?

[stevenc]

Get a stripped bolt removal tool or grind the edges of the bolt so you can fit a wrench squarely on it.

[BimmerLearner]

Thanks!

[1speedbike]

Haha I like the pun. I agree with stevenc, though. You're not in bad shape, just get a stripped screw tool, or use an electric grinder to shave it down!

[HondaGoneRogue]

You can heat it up also. It will make the shank shrink.

[Lester]

EZ-Out

[BimmerLearner]

its just not in all the way;its not rattling, so hope its gonna be ok till i can fix it saturday.

[BimmerLearner]

im guessing the thread in the hole is also pooched...

[HondaGoneRogue]

If there is still room you could dremmel the nut off and use a new nut on the last couple of good threads. That would hold you over.

[HondaGoneRogue]

I just looked at the pic again. I would heat it up and then get a tap and die set.

[Robert]

I always hate things like this but it's all part of the DIY experience. Time, sweat and sometimes blood.

[fshowcars]

I would first PB blast it... then i would consider cutting the center with a dremmel and using a flat head screw driver to remove... otherwise, a stripped bolt remover... you can get them at a local mall (craftsman).

[esses]

Any grinding or dremmeling you do is probably going to heat it up enough to turn even partially stripped. So you might as well use a torch - more fun.

[The Cthulhu]

Originally Posted by HondaGoneRogue

You can heat it up also. It will make the shank shrink.

That's why they call it thermal EXPANSION, right?

[Evolution Racewerks]

Vice Grip. A real one, not a china knock off.

Get it so that it's so tight, you need the jaws of life to close the vice grip. You would then be able to get it out. Repeat the process if you run out of space to turn it.

For future reference, put the bolt in first and turn by hand until you have at least 1/4 it in the thread. This makes sure you're not cross threading it. You can never strip a bolt by hand. If it stops, you've put the bolt in crocked. Take it back out and try again. Once it's a 1/4 way in, then put a socket on it.

Also, make sure you have the right size socket for the bolt and that it is squarely on the bolt. I've been working on cars for 14 years now and I've only stripped the heads on a bolt less than 5 times. That bolt in the picture looks like an external torx which is even harder to strip the head as it has more contact points.

[The Cthulhu]

Originally Posted by Evolution Racewerks

For future reference, put the bolt in first and turn by hand until you have at least 1/4 it in the thread. This makes sure you're not cross threading it. You can never strip a bolt by hand. If it stops, you've put the bolt in crocked. Take it back out and try again. Once it's a 1/4 way in, then put a socket on it.

You can crank a bolt down so hard that you strip it. I torque bolts where applicable and use my best judgement other times. There's no reason to tighten a bolt insanely tight, but you really do need to develop an "I'm about to strip this bolt" feeling

You can always snug it up tightly and use loc-tite if you're worried about it vibrating loose.

Also, best way to line up the threads is to backthread the bolt a little with your hand until it seats, then hand tighten it. Any time you have multiple bolts, leave wiggle room until they're all in, and then tighten them all up.

[fshowcars]

^ i think he meant you cannot strip or cross thread a bolt by way of finger tightening it... naturally you can strip any bolt with hand tools.

I agree on the vice grip thing, but they suck to use a lot of the time. I still say dremel the center and lube it up.