Rounded one of my locking wheel bolts off

[Markb]

As subject I tried to remove the rear wheels for the first time yesterday to paint the brake calipers and they where on that hard that I managed to round one of the heads off while it was still in the hub /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif


How do I go about removing this now? Will Audi be able to do it?

Can you re-thread the hub?

 

[recomdos]

bumma! wouldn't know off hand, but I'm sure they can do something, or you could maybe just try a tyre/wheel specialist? they might be a bit cheaper and I'm sure they face similar problems all the time!

 

[Paul-RS6]

local tyre place should have tools to get them out.

 

[Khufu]

better tools than hammering on a smaller socket? LOL

 

[Gambba]

[ QUOTE ]
khufu said:
better tools than hammering on a smaller socket? LOL

[/ QUOTE ]

No, this is actually not as daft as it would seem! In my mind (that's the mind of an engineer /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif) there's two ways 1) Is drill a hole in the wheel bolt and use an ez-out (Left hand tap item specifically designed to remove broken bolts/studs) or 2) take a cheap socket that roughly fits the head of the lock bolt and give it a good thrashing until the socket and bolt become one, now take it off.

I've used the second method previously and to great success, but just remember to go to your stealer and purchase a new bolt before doing anything. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MrLapou]

ez-outs are made from a very hard metal, which is liable to break off if too much pressure is used. IMHO the hammered on smaller size socket is a 1st choice.
Apply pentrationg oil to the area and leave for 24 hours before attemping undoing the bolt.

 

[Gambba]

[ QUOTE ]
MrLapou said:
ez-outs are made from a very hard metal, which is liable to break off if too much pressure is used. IMHO the hammered on smaller size socket is a 1st choice.
Apply pentrationg oil to the area and leave for 24 hours before attemping undoing the bolt.

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd be surprissed how much torque the large ez-outs can take, and whilst they are brittle as long as you provide a linear moment to them instead of a shock you should be fine. There's no doubt though the socket is the first choice due to the ease of it compared to using the ez-out. Just remember to clean out the threads of the hub to remove residue of the oil, as oil contamination on threads will increase torque by around 40%!!...this changes to 60% for grease!!

 

[neil.c]

Hammering on smaller sockets on overtightened wheelbolts is a bit hit and miss, as the sockets often split- not from the hammering but the attempted undoing- unless they are the black ones specifically designed for use in impact wrenches.

 

[Gambba]

[ QUOTE ]
neil.c said:
Hammering on smaller sockets on overtightened wheelbolts is a bit hit and miss, as the sockets often split- not from the hammering but the attempted undoing- unless they are the black ones specifically designed for use in impact wrenches.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would agree with you to a certain extent but having done this on a few occasions, i've found that the locking wheel bolts are not meaty enough around the key area making them round off far too easily. So I expect that these bolts are not severely overtightened and that a socket will work just fine IMO.

 

[Paul-RS6]

some tyre fitters can have a set of ez outs that fit OVER the nut like a undersized socket.

as you undo, it tightens up.