24 replies to this topic

[VX Mark]

I'm having an absolute nightmare removing a few bolts out of the front clam. I have pictured the ones i'm struggling with, it appears some were already 'rounded' before my attempts to undo them. Any suggestions or solutions would be greatly appreciated. 

 

PAX Side, rounded

 

Allen bolt is rounded, nut just spins at the bottom

 

PAX Side PITA bolt near the rad housing, spanner cannot grip the bolt at all (maybe due to rust?)

 

Drivers side door, rounded

 

Drivers side wheel arch, rounded

 

Cheers

Mark

[Zuber]

I used a Dremel to make flats for a spanner or a central flat for a big screwdriver...

[techieboy]

Ouch. They're all stainless fixings already, by the look of them.

[VX Mark]

Yeah whoever the previous remover was torqued them so tight it has been a pain to try and get them out without rounding them. I have all new bolts as i never want to encounter this again! 

[tommobot]

The one by the door opening - If you take the front plastic section of the sill cover off you can reach back round and get the bottom of the thread of the nut going through the sill etc...

 

The bonnet one in the gutter, have have tried a long socket over the allen key head and onto the nut on the thread of the bolt below... Also, think there is a nut on the underside of the clam?

[VX Mark]

I had a quick ganders reaching into the sill but couldn't feel a nut, just thread. I shall keep trying!

 

The bonnet bolt does have a nut on the underside but i believe is has seized causing the Allen head to round. Ill keep trying some more penetrating solution   I have also tried a long socket over the Allen bolt but it fouls the side of the socket 

[tommobot]

I can't 100% remember either, but working on a freinds VX the pass door bolt rounded of and the only way we removed it was by going into the cill... Can't remember what we did to get it out though 

[Crabash]

As above I recently encountered the ones in the sill/door area and the one accessed from the wheel arch, both can be got to from interior sill cover at front or the rubber bung when door is open.

Hand in hole and feel about, so you can just add normal nuts to replace the currently spinning ones, I wouldn't mess about just cut/drill/grind them out and push though catching on the inside, then replace the nut too, it's fooked anyway. also ordered SS nuts,bolts and washers for the bonnet stops.

Edited by Crabash, 27 November 2013 - 04:36 PM.

[VX Mark]

I think the plan is just to attack it with the dremel tomorrow and stop faffing about. Lost hours today due to a few bolts... crazy! 

[Crabash]

My approach is usually if it wont come easy, do I need to save anything, if not cut it and replace all the problem parts as long as it doesn't involve any expensive parts.

[Dunc6]

I had fun removing the same bonnet stay bolt

[Duncan VXR]

You can try the special socket type to remove I have the irwin set. Sometimes work a treat some just will never come out and either drill and tap a smaller thread / bolt or grind / drill head off to remove clam and as steve points out you can access the areas to put a solution in place be that original stick a bolt setup or nut and bolt. The one under the window is the worse and you cant get to the fibre glass area to fit with window in. I have a snap on extractor set also which are great for snapped studs but find when they are stuck they just don't budge without spinning or snapping stuff bottom sill the easy one really DG

[VX Mark]

Any tips for the bolt in the most awkward place ever? The one that goes between the rad surround and clam, near the fog light? I managed to get the drivers side out but not that pax. My sockets or spanners just won't grip it.

[jonnyboy]

Get grinder in the gap in between and grind the fecker off. I hate those bolts. Never had a stuck one but even when they are not stuck they are still a pain. Interestingly I noticed when stripping my Elise down there is an access panel right there so you can get to both sides of it easily. WHY is this not on the VX one!?!

[VX Mark]

Right feeling armed with a few ideas I'll give it another crack tomorrow. Cheers for all you help guys!

[Thealastair34]

Grinder for clam one, new disk go it at 45 then from other side, then long socket with 13mm on underside, the door shut ones I got dremel on and ground the heads off

[JG]

This is why removing the clams once a year is essential

[Crabash]

Mine had not been off since new and I think Duncan will testify to it being a proper bitch, I think maybe 2 or 3 came out on the whole car without attacking with grinder, dremel or drill. Even then we were still left with the task of getting new stuff in which is not so easy with so many blind captive nuts that are all turning.

[sworks]

How did you get on with the bolts in your second pic? I have all bolts out apart from one of these. Guessing either cut a slot in the head and use a screw driver, or cut it down as close to the clam as possible as use a socket to undo this whilst gripping the nut underneath?

[VX Mark]

I tried the slot method but I eventually got it off by cutting the head off then using a socket on it. Also with a spanner on the underside.