Rounded Cap End Bolt

[Combehatter]

Help!!

I got bored and decided to finally change the springs on Bubba.

All was going swimmingly until I tried to remove the second cap end bolt on the upper ball joint and rounded the fecker... (I had cleaned it out and made sure the socket fitted perfectly first) I actually managed to crack it off and got a couple of turns on it but then it went and I have got no further. I have smothered it in Duck oil and had a got set of grips on it but no movement at all now.

Any ideas??

Cheers

[kevtherev]

two ways I can think of
grind a couple of flats on the cap or weld a nut to it

[Combehatter]

No welder available, may try to grind but access is limited!

Was thinking of drilling it out???

[kevtherev]

good luck

[audi0704]

borrow some "Irwin" nut removers bit like easy outs but look like sockets and fit "over" rounded nuts,think thieves and garages use them for removing locking wheel nuts,i have a set and used them on the same job as you are doing,EXCELLENT TOOLS

[Ian Hulley]

borrow some "Irwin" nut removers bit like easy outs but look like sockets and fit "over" rounded nuts,think thieves and garages use them for removing locking wheel nuts,i have a set and used them on the same job as you are doing,EXCELLENT TOOLS

^ WHS or (as I had to do 10 years ago when we first bought the van) slice the head off the bolt with a slitting disc in about 4 cuts.

Ian

[Combehatter]

Drilled it out, took me about 1/2 hour and several bits

Now I can't get the spring out! Spring compressors have it nipped right up but it won't come over the back lip - heads gone now so back to it tomorrow

Cheers for the help people!

[Ian Hulley]

Steady as you go, them springs are big things to be hitting you in the teeth

Ian

[audi0704]

Drilled it out, took me about 1/2 hour and several bits

Now I can't get the spring out! Spring compressors have it nipped right up but it won't come over the back lip - heads gone now so back to it tomorrow

Cheers for the help people!

Get a scaffy pole and lever the hub downwards then get some-one heavy, I used the other half to keep their weight on the end of the scaffy pole while you wrestle the spring free but try not to look at it cos the back of your head isn't as sensitive as your face or as useful.
I found the spring compressors I had were useless and got in the way most of the time,a bit of brute force and ignorance will see it done,keep the plasters within easy reach or wear good gloves.Good luck.

[RedGus]

Now I can't get the spring out! Spring compressors have it nipped right up but it won't come over the back lip

The Haynes procedure is a bit more involved, but I can confirm it does work, and you don't even need spring compressors. You need to disconnect the track rod end and the inner end of the track control arm (having first taken the load of the spring on a trolley jack underneath). Then just lower the jack gently until there's no tension left in the spring. It should then slide out fairly easily, with no danger to life and limb. A bit more work, and more to undo, but very little wrestling involved.

try not to look at it cos the back of your head isn't as sensitive as your face or as useful.

I'm not sure I'd like to be choosing between getting a loaded coil spring through the back OR front of my head!

James