Rust belt bolt removal fun.

[Trav]

I got to have some fun removing CV axle bolts common to VW/Audi, BMW, MB and other Euro cars. If they are in good condition a 17 or 19mm Allen head socket and a big breaker will get them out without too much fuss, on the other hand if they are rusted an RBT socket may do the trick but if they are rotten there is a real problem, they are tightened to 148 ft.lb then 180 degrees, tight is not the word I would use.

You tube videos usually show easy stuff (Eric O is the real deal). At 2.00 is where the guy gets one off. I got the 2 fronts with an RBT one a 2 ft breaker and 5ft pipe, the rears were another story. It took a 50 cal air hammer (.498) to shift it, if that didn't work I was ready to break out the stick welder and a weld a socket in it.

This common in the rust belt. Do not drive with no wheel center caps or use high pressure to clean the wheels.

 

[Propflux01]

Always remember, whatever you're doing in automotive, double the time and add 20 minutes!

 

[Trav]

I learned that 50 years ago and its true and then some unless you live out west or some parts of the south where everything just falls apart with a 3/8 ratchet (exaggerate). LOL

 

[JeffKeryk]

You back east guys are baaaaaaad a.
You should see the undercarriage of my '65 442... Spotless.

 

[clinebarger]

I learned that 50 years ago and its true and then some unless you live out west or some parts of the south where everything just falls apart with a 3/8 ratchet (exaggerate). LOL

That's about right

 

[Number_35]

You back east guys are baaaaaaad a.
You should see the undercarriage of my '65 442... Spotless.

View attachment 291811

Mods: We need a jealous emoji.

 

[ElectroMechanoMan]

HEAT, BEAT,AND REPEAT !!!!

 

[nwjones18]

I had to cut the nuts off the sway bar links on our 08 CRV this weekend.. It was not fun at all. Made a hour job into a 3hr job.

 

[Trav]

HEAT, BEAT,AND REPEAT !!!!

There is no rust in the threads just the Allen head hex was rotted so bad it was rounded out and it is torqued to 148 ft.lb +180 degrees so it is probably somewhere near 400 ftlb.

 

[sdowney717]

Couple things could be done, weld a nut to the damaged bolt head, or grind off the damaged bolt head and pull hub leaving bolt behind.
I prefer the weld idea as heating it will lengthen it and likely to come off.

Can also torch cut metal off, as in just melt the head off the bolt.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

What a stupid design. Why the hell would they make the axle bolt an allen key?

Are there any aftermarket bolts that aren't a stupid hex key?

 

[Number_35]

I had to cut the nuts off the sway bar links on our 08 CRV this weekend.. It was not fun at all. Made a hour job into a 3hr job.

Par for the course here.

 

[Trav]

Couple things could be done, weld a nut to the damaged bolt head, or grind off the damaged bolt head and pull hub leaving bolt behind.
I prefer the weld idea as heating it will lengthen it and likely to come off.

Can also torch cut metal off, as in just melt the head off the bolt.

Welding a socket in was the next thing if what I didn't work. Cutting it off or grinding it off would do serious $$$$ damage, this is a 4" long 16mm fine thread bolt with a 19mm Allen head with a taper under the head that goes into the CV axle. The easiest way is with a big air chisel/5x+ rivet gun. I have done a few of these over the years and own all the tools, smoke wrench, welders, big compressor, etc.
These big bolts can be a bugger to do but you need to use a little finesse along with brutality. With a CP717, Thor or big nasty, Ajax chisel and a lot of CFM it is not a bad job ) the CP717 is a much easier tool to use.

What a stupid design. Why the hell would they make the axle bolt an allen key?

Are there any aftermarket bolts that aren't a stupid hex key?

You are spot on, it is a ridiculous design, they claim it for ease of installation with automated tooling it is also known as creative work for the dealer, when they get in this state it is getting beyond most DIY. They did use a regular hex bolt some years ago on the Audi 80/90 but they don't fit the later models.

 

[Donald]

In the rust belt one needs to remove all nuts and bolts every 2 years to make sure they will unscrew when you really need them to unscrew.

Easier to move out of rust belt.