Rear Brake Hose Bolt Stripped

[Tiggie]

Stripped the bolt that holds the brake line hose on top of the rear axle housing.

What are you all doing to get this off?

The head is too shallow to use an extractor that grips the head.

Considering cutting the head off and trying to grab the stud.

pic for example (off the 88/not stripped yet, the 90 is the current problem child).

[87gtVIC]

Id heat it up and use a chisel and hammer to try and work it loose. Maybe vice grips can grab it? Last resort...grind the head off like you mentioned.

[Arquemann]

Hammer a bigger torx socket on first

[massacre]

I'd just weld a nut onto that button head fastener.

[Tiggie]

My welder doesn't have enough amps to actually make a nut stick to the bolt. New welder is something I've been thinking about for a while but not yet.

I'll try the next step up Torx or a chisel if I can get it in there. Gas tank is right in the way. Wish I would have done this when the tank was out a few years ago but didn't think about it.

[sly]

My HF special Chicago Electric 125 will weld a nut to a bolt if I preheat it with a map torch. Not the place I'd want to do that though. I would try hosing it with PB Blaster for a few days (seriously... spray it a few times each day and just let it work) and then trying the correct size star impact on it and see if it moves.

[gadget73]

cut the hose off, zip tie the new one to the old block and carry on with your day.

[massacre]

Yeah, gas tank being right there is limiting for sure. Makes you wonder why manufacturers use certain fasteners. My Explorer has the same exact thing except it's a hex there. Torx to me would seem like a terrible choice. Just soak and pray i guess. If you have room to swing a hammer you could try an impact driver

[Kodachrome Wolf]

Nick had a stuck one on his ‘89. We ground off the head, removed the hose, and extracted the rest with some vice grips. Liberal amount of penetrating spray was also used.

[Tiggie]

Won the victory over this bolt last. Ended up grinding the head off, pulling the hose/bracket, and the remaining stud came out with an extractor.

The threads weren't rusty. The problem seemed to be the bolt head rusted to the brake line bracket.

On another note, this car is pretty clean underneath but the axle housing is a rust bomb. Would have been nice if they painted them before leaving St. Thomas.

[massacre]

Glad you got it out

[sly]

Victory!