Date:         Mon, 1 Dec 2003 09:50:58 -0800
Reply-To:     Jake Beaulieu <jake_beaulieu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake Beaulieu <jake_beaulieu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: drilling out axle bolts
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Ben,

I have been working on a nearly stripped out CV bolt on the wheel side for the last week.  I finally got it out last night.  If you are able to get a grab on the bolt with an oversized allan bit try using a hand impact driver to break it lose.  I searched the archives and found several posts where people had success with this approach.  Another method I almost tried was using a dremmel tool to grind down the sides of the bolt head.  Then a vice grip could be used to turn the bolt out.  Only problem is the lack of acces to those bolts.  I used a razor blade to cut off the rubber CV boot which gives you a lot more room to work in there.  I found another post in the archives where somebody used a dremell tool to cut off the bolt head.  Once the joint was removed they used a vice grip to remove the stud.  If worse comes to worse you can always drive out the hub thing that the CV joint bolts onto.  I suppose this would require removing the drum, axle nut, wheel bearings, etc.
I called Sears and they told me they do not carry the 12-point "tri-star" bit.  I have one on order from Bus Depot (about $7) that should be coming in any day.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Jake


---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard