5 replies to this topic

[tink]

I've managed to tick a few of the little jobs off on the VX today - but 'clearing out the crud in the towing eye mount' was not! It turns out that 'crud' is actually the threaded section of the towing eye itself. Whilst I wonder why it's been used and snapped and why the previous owner didn't mention anything, does anyone have advice on how to remove it, just in case it does need using 1 day? My drill has not managed to touch it. Lesson learnt - check out that shiny tow hook safely stowed in its mount under the bonnet. For the last 3.5 years has only ever been half of anything useful!

[DarrylB]

I can only think of gettng a tungston carbide tipped drill bit - thats what i had to do to remove a broken exhaust stud. I was able to get a decent hole to use a stud extractor on it. If not, It's a clam off job to replace towing mount with a new one.

[simsy]

Get a good quality drill bit.... and drill slowly and in the middle of the thread.. Used a 4mm (ish ) to start with. drill all the way through the thread... then use a 6.5 or 6.7mm drill and remove the rest... then try to remove the remaining thread edges and retap/ clean up threads with a M8 x 1.25 tap........... A reverse action type thread removal tool may work, but I would imagine it will snap due to the rust, leaving hard steel in the tread, that is almost impossible to drill out... If not, buy one of my stainless steel tow brackets..! (CLAM OFF JOB)

Edited by simsy, 07 May 2012 - 03:49 PM.

[NickB787]

change your drill bit for a new one which is small enough to go down the centre of the tread it'self. If you manage to drill all the way through wha'ts left of the bolt then try some remover tools, something like these

http://www.ebay.co.u...630337458&ps=54

If you can't do it then you either remove the clam to get to the tow unit or drill the one left in there as close as you dare to the original size, then try retaping it. That happened to me once, I sorted it by the second method then replaced it when i had the clam off.

[tink]

Nice one, thanks for the speedy replies guys - I'll pick up some new drill bits and give it another go - already have some remover tools like the eBay link. If that doesn't work, then I hope clam bolts don't prove a problem too!

[SPLAM]

Maybe worth using left hand drills, a little squirt with some penetrating fluid everyday for a week or so first wouldn't do any harm. Be carefull with stud extractors, if they snap in the hole you will be properly fuc*ed.