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i hate torx bolts

1K views 15 replies 14 participants last post by  solarpower 
#1 ·
i just spent 2 hours drilling out a stupid torx bolt in the windshield. i broke 4 drill bits and scratched my paint. I have a nice set of torx wrenches that fit on a socket wrench deal, but they seem to strip out really easily. how do yall get them out when they start to strip? i know sears has those reverse drill bits that can get them out, but i cant really spend $40 or whatever they cost. any help is appreciated and im sure others would like to know as well...
 
#4 ·
I learned that before trying to turn the bolt, take a hammer to the torx socket and pound it in some more. This gives you a better grip. Also apply heavy pressure to the torx socket while you are turning, as in leaning on it but make sure you keep the socket as straight as possible. You could have another person lean on the socket wrench, applying pressure, while you turn it. An impact gun would help alot i believe. Impacting while turning loosens bolts easier.

How i got mine out after stripping one:
I took a dremel and sliced a groove right down the middle of the bolt head so it had a "flat head screwdriver" slot. I took my HD large flat head screwdriver (1/2" head) and pounded that into the slot. Next i took my vice grips and locked them on the screwdriver shaft and turned it with the vice grips. You gotta make sure the groove that you slice on the bolt head is deep enough not to strip.
 
#6 ·
some posted the idea of using an impact hammer driver, use hammer to activate rotation on tool? anyway others chimed in that it worked like a charm and is available at sears for twenty something bucks, (for the future) Good Luck!!
 
#7 ·
ALWAYS spray a Jeep torx bolt head with some PB Blaster prior to trying to remove and it will come out, usually without a lot of force. Also, before trying to loosen, put some brute force on it in the "tightening" direction to unseat the threads, then reverse and it will usually back out easier.
 
#11 ·
I stripped one. I am new to working on vehicles and just thought it was a fancy shaped allen wrench lol. Then figured out I was wrong when I stripped it, got the torx bit, and still couldn't get them out. So I took it to the shop of a guy that kinda owes me some favors, and he hammered his nice Snap-on torx bits in and got em right out for me. I don't tighten them as much now
 
#15 ·
Another handy tip. Pound that Torx bit in there, and heat the Torx bit.

Not cherry red (unless you have another bit, because you'll change the temper of your first one).

Heat, PB Blaster, hitting the bit...... repeat. And, if you don't have an air impact wrench, get a manual one. It lets you do the hitting and turning all at the same time.

And, if these are completely painted-over, make sure to slit the paint, to get the PB Blaster working in there.

Rocky529 said:
Easy Out from Sears works well usually.
Easy outs might work on some stripped fasteners.... but if you stripped these bolt out, they are stuck so tight that they will not "easy-out".
 
#16 ·
lrjeep said:
The only bad thing to me with torx is the fact I have to carry around a whole set of torx drivers. Other than that I much prefer them to any other screw drive method.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

If you a have damn fine torx wrench you MIGHT have a chance. The tool is the key.

Torx suck. Allen heads are more contact area (tool on fastener) and require force applied in only a twisting motion. The same reason hex head are great fasteners, they need no DOWNWARD force.

Torx need a downward force AND force applied in rotation. Many internal head fasteners require some downward force like a phillips or a flathead..and the torx was probably NOT initially designed that way, but the fact is that sub-par tools and sub-par fasteners=death and agony.

and to the OP, getting a Left hand drill bit and using a drill motor that HAS reverse should go a long way. I also use duct tape and card board around the area I'm working with if it involves power tools and possible paint damage.
 
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