Date:         Fri, 8 Dec 2006 15:08:05 -0500
Reply-To:     Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Help removing stripped CV joint bolts
Comments: To: chris <chris@MCCLURKEN.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <1165597166.10752.7.camel@chris-desktop>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

A better fit for removing the stripped CV bolts than the 12 point or the
Torx, is to use a 1/4" Allen wrench on a socket head with an extension.
It is slightly larger than a 6mm, smaller than a 7mm, and can rather
easily be pounded into a stripped out 6mm CV joint Allen head bolt.
Then you just unscrew it.  Never had it fail.  Of course, you should
also spray some PB Blaster on the bolt if you can.  Preferably do that
before you start the job, not just after you have stripped a bolt.

I got this from Ben Huot's web page after having had great difficulties
with the other tools.  Some have suggested grinding down a 7mm, but the
1/4" one works great as is.  It is in my 'always on board' tool bag.

When you get the hex head bolts out, replace them all with 12 point, or
triple squares, what ever you want to call them.  Also, don't reuse the
Allen heads ones more than once, if at all.  I've only got one Allen
head on my Syncro and only because I ran out and one of our list vendors
sent me hex heads instead of 12 points.  So, that one is new.  But, if I
don't reuse them, they'll do for back up when traveling.

Use a torque wrench to tighten them up.  Most importantly so you won't
under tighten and have them vibrate loose.  This has actually happened
to quite a number of people.  But, with the torque wrench, you also
won't over tighten the bolts and therefore will be much less likely to
strip them out when you have to remove them some time in the future.
Really important if you have to make a roadside repair.

Some folks advise putting Loctite on these bolts but I have never had
one come loose that I put on with a torque wrench.  34 # lbs IIRC.  I
definitely wouldn't put Loctite in there with a used hex head CV bolt.
I have never used it.

Sam


--
Sam Walters

Baltimore, MD