Best way to remove triple square bolts on 300TD hatch struts? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tomas_maly · #1 12-24-2011, 03:51 PM

I've been through this enough times that I'm going to get a screw/bolt drill-out/extractor set as well as a die/tap set. 30 year old cars seem to easily have stubborn bolts quite a bit.

vstech · #2 12-24-2011, 04:43 PM

the external easy out socket set from sears can be hammered onto the outside of the bolt head, and use massive force to remove the bolts. don't bother with the small set from lowes or Homedepot... you have to have the socket next to the smallest, and the irwin set does not have it.

charmalu · #3 12-24-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

the external easy out socket set from sears can be hammered onto the outside of the bolt head, and use massive force to remove the bolts. don't bother with the small set from lowes or Homedepot... you have to have the socket next to the smallest, and the irwin set does not have it.

Have you seen the head on this bolt? It is round and smooth like a carriage bolt. there really isn`t a side to grab onto.

Charlie

vstech · #4 12-24-2011, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Have you seen the head on this bolt? It is round and smooth like a carriage bolt. there really isn`t a side to grab onto.

Charlie

... yeah I've done this job several times. you have to DRIVE the socket onto the bolt head, but it works wonders. these sockets even work on the miserable starter bolts... MASSIVE torque needed on those!

tomas_maly · #5 12-26-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

... yeah I've done this job several times. you have to DRIVE the socket onto the bolt head, but it works wonders. these sockets even work on the miserable starter bolts... MASSIVE torque needed on those!

vstech, unfortunately these triple square bolts are rounded on the outside and thus no surface area to grip onto from the sides. so these bolt removers will be useless. Triple squares are female bolts, like the hex bolts on the oil pan. Even then, they are naturally round, so there's no way they'd grip. I did however find an ez-out kit which drives into the inside of the bolt.

vstech · #6 12-26-2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomas_maly

vstech, unfortunately these triple square bolts are rounded on the outside and thus no surface area to grip onto from the sides. so these bolt removers will be useless. Triple squares are female bolts, like the hex bolts on the oil pan. Even then, they are naturally round, so there's no way they'd grip. I did however find an ez-out kit which drives into the inside of the bolt.

ok, I'm going to tell you one more time...
this is the tool you need if your bolt has stripped internally.

you do not just turn it.
you HAMMER IT ONTO THE BOLT HEAD. I TOTALLY understand that they are round, without flats of any kind. this tool works perfectly.

TheDon · #7 12-24-2011, 11:19 PM

The craftsman bolt out digs into the fastener to be removed.

tomas_maly · #8 12-26-2011, 10:11 PM

I can understand for standard bolts, definitely these would work, but the triple squares are more like giant screws (they have really flat/shallow and tapered screw-like heads). They are female because there really is no clearance on the perimeter of the screw for any bolt remover to do it's magic or for a hex bolt to have worked anyway. These types of things are used in really tight spots. Similarly, with the allen-style bolts used on the engine mounts or the front wheel rotors. Only something gripping on the INSIDE of the bolt/screw could possibly get it out.

But I've never used these things you suggest, so I could be wrong about their application.

vstech · #9 12-27-2011, 07:14 AM

my 85 euro wagon has the hatch mounts sticking out of the hulk, I'll look on that one and verify weather or not the tool can grip the bolts you describe. if they are truly as flat as you describe, then no, it won't work. for that, I imagine you would have to drill out the bolt... not fun on such a small fastener.

charmalu · #10 12-27-2011, 01:35 PM

Envelope please, and the answer is?

Charlie

TchTchr · #11 12-27-2011, 05:51 PM

I just got done putting new struts in my wagon. The heads on mine use an allen wrench and are pan head shaped; therefore, I don't know if the Craftsman bolt removers would have much to grab onto. It is worth a shot though. The bolt/nut removers are a VERY nice addition to any tool box.

kerry · #12 12-27-2011, 06:05 PM

I bought a set of those Craftsman bolt removers to use on a stripped bolt on my LandCruiser alternator. In my experience they are a POS. Even hammering it on to the bolt head did not allow it to grip.