amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter)
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
5/19/23 4:10 p.m.

need some advice on how to remove this rusted out bolt. 
 

This is on the rear seat mount of an NA Miata. The head of the bolt is no longer 14mm as they normally are. A 12mm open ended wrench kinda fits on 2 cleanish sides but the bolt doesn't have enough head for the wrench to grab onto to twist the bolt. 
 

I tried hammering on the remaining piece of seat rail but that metal is pretty weak and just bends or breaks off. 
 

I've applied PB Blaster liberally for the last week. 
 

Any thoughts on how to remove this bolt?

 Thanks 
 

amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter)
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
5/19/23 4:11 p.m.

amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter)
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
5/19/23 4:12 p.m.

AxeHealey
AxeHealey GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
5/19/23 4:31 p.m.

I think my first move would be a vice grip. Second would be to cut a slot in it and try to turn it with a flat screwdriver and/or a flat bit in a ratchet. Put lots of downward pressure on the head of the ratchet and see if you can break it free. Third would be to use a hammer impact driver in the same slot. 

JoeTR6
JoeTR6 Dork
5/19/23 4:42 p.m.

I've used a dremel tool with a cutoff disk to clean up the sides and make it better fit the next sized smaller socket.  Try a few heat and cooling cycles to break the rust.  And if that doesnt work, you've cleaned up some metal that you can now weld something onto.

DocRob
DocRob Reader
5/19/23 4:43 p.m.

How I would go about this:

1) Throw the twist brush into an angle grinder and clean that bolt head up.

2) Hammer a 12mm impact socket on it, or closest fractional impact socket that can be hammered on.

3) Stick a 3/8-drive hammer impact driver onto the socket.

4) Hit it with the BFH. 

If it doesn't bust loose in about a dozen whacks chances are it won't. So, I'd take the aforementioned angle grinder and cut it out. 

Shadeux
Shadeux GRM+ Memberand Dork
5/19/23 5:07 p.m.

Get one of these and a hefty impact gun.  

Silverline Damaged Rounded Bolt Nut Remover Socket Set 467893 | Sealants  and Tools Direct

914Driver
914Driver MegaDork
5/19/23 5:09 p.m.

  You may be able to shoot PB Blaster under that flange thing; if that doesn't work scribe 2 or 3 lines between opposite pointy corners, center punch where they intersect, then drill the head off.  If there's some bolt left you could try turning it.  If not, keep drilling and then retap the female thread.  If the other one came out use that for size & pitch reference.

buzzboy
buzzboy SuperDork
5/19/23 5:46 p.m.

Clean it and weld a bigger nut over it. And I mean pour on the heat.

DocRob
DocRob Reader
5/19/23 6:12 p.m.

I'm not sure on Miatas, are these through holes where you can cut this thing loose and drill it out and use a nut and bolt - or do the seat bolts go into a threaded (blind) hole? 

amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter)
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
5/19/23 6:42 p.m.
Shadeux said:

Get one of these and a hefty impact gun.  

Silverline Damaged Rounded Bolt Nut Remover Socket Set 467893 | Sealants  and Tools Direct

What is that? Looks like it would have a nice bite

DocRob
DocRob Reader
5/19/23 6:48 p.m.

In reply to amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) :

That's just a good old fashioned bolt extractor: Bolt Extractors from Irwin

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
JocCkRkJhCZDrLcC0cBtZ6oHwrkDA4bJKsdvas12ymHY5cPkUlx7BviCAle0UDWU