Stuck/Stripped Bolts
 

I am in the middle of replacing the water pump on my 95 C280 and I am having big trouble with the 6mm hex recessed hex bolts that hold it on to the motor. They were stripped before I started trying to get them out with 6mm and 5.5mm hex keys and now they are pretty much circles. The location of these bolts and now this situation I can't seem to think of anything that will work to get these bolts out. I am stuck at this point and very much need ideas on how to get stuck bolts out (and yes I have searched the forums).
CypressKB@hotmail.com

In these cases, I have been able to pound an appropriately sized socket over the outside of the bolt then turn them out. I have stripped many allen bolts and if you can get the socket jammed on then it works like a champ.

I assume you mean "allen" head bolts, I've found that sometimes you can hammer an appropriately sized Torx bit into rounded out allens and get then turning that way.
Gilly

Auto zone sells a pretty cheap easy-out that fits a 3/8 drive. If you can get to the bolts, you place the closest size on to the bolt head, and back the bolt out with a ratchet or breaker bar. They come in a set and I think I paid around $19.00 or $20.00 for my set, and they've already paid for themselves several times! I've even wedged them on to an Allen head.:)



http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kd3537.html

The proper term would be "S.H.C.S."



or Socket Head Cap Screw, whichever you perfer. Very commonplace in the industery.

bolts
 

gilly is right,easiest way to remove stripped allen head bolts is to buy set of torx or 12 point star male sockets and pick the one that will drive into the rounded hole.those bolts are only 8.8 grade and will be soft enough to allow driving in.

Listen to these guys about the Torx bits. There's a reason I keep a full set in my toolbox, long after the days of having driven GM vehicles. If a pounded Torx won't get it out, nothing will.