Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
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Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
The previous owner has at some point replaced the triple square bolts with Philips head bolts. I'd never really paid attention until I decided to fix a rattly passenger door latch.
Correct bolts have arrived so I set about trying to remove the old bolts and of course the heads round straight away.
So I've got as far as drilling the heads off so I can remove the striker and have started drilling out the bolts but wanted to check:
a) I'm not going to lose the captive nuts (I assume not but would like to be sure!)
b) Do I keep drilling carfeilly through the middle and hope the thread collapses - I have no idea if they've been loctited in (or worse - it's A US car)
c) Other option? Eazy out etc?
Correct bolts have arrived so I set about trying to remove the old bolts and of course the heads round straight away.
So I've got as far as drilling the heads off so I can remove the striker and have started drilling out the bolts but wanted to check:
a) I'm not going to lose the captive nuts (I assume not but would like to be sure!)
b) Do I keep drilling carfeilly through the middle and hope the thread collapses - I have no idea if they've been loctited in (or worse - it's A US car)
c) Other option? Eazy out etc?
- PeterK
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Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
The nuts are on a plate & can’t go far
Try locking 2 nuts on the ‘studs’ & see if they’ll wind out. They may collapse now that you've drilled them, but you've nothing to lose.
Otherwise, yes just drill them out with increasingly bigger drills, maybe use a dentist pick to get the remnants out & finish off by running a tap down the threads
Try locking 2 nuts on the ‘studs’ & see if they’ll wind out. They may collapse now that you've drilled them, but you've nothing to lose.
Otherwise, yes just drill them out with increasingly bigger drills, maybe use a dentist pick to get the remnants out & finish off by running a tap down the threads
'79 Targa - restoration now mainly complete & being driven
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=59756
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=59756
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Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
If you have a welder then filing the centre of those lock nuts Peter mentioned will help to loosen things off as well with the heat that goes down the bolt.
Obviously some penetrating fluid wouldn’t go amiss as well.
Once at this stage I tend to use all the methods at it first time out to maximise chances of success!
Obviously some penetrating fluid wouldn’t go amiss as well.
Once at this stage I tend to use all the methods at it first time out to maximise chances of success!
- inaglasshouse
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Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
This plus Loctite on the nuts and an impact gun sometimes works for me. Very satisfying when it does!
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Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
Oh yes, impact gun. Can free off even the most stubborn fixing!
Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
Penetrating fluid and let sit... then repeat
Add two nuts if you can thread them on... see if they turn freely
If not, weld nut to the ends to generate heat (obviously, protect your paint) and provide a means to remove/turn the bolts.
Add two nuts if you can thread them on... see if they turn freely
If not, weld nut to the ends to generate heat (obviously, protect your paint) and provide a means to remove/turn the bolts.
Dean
1973T Targa MFI 334 met blu- under restoration https://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 28&t=67060
1980 924 Turbo, blu/grn tartan - restored
1973T Targa MFI 334 met blu- under restoration https://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 28&t=67060
1980 924 Turbo, blu/grn tartan - restored
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Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
Weld a nut is a v good approach.
Do not drill larger than the thread tapping drill diameter, iirc the screws are m8 so no bigger than 6mm drill.
This assumes you start on centre!
The captivating box on the inside of the wing could be well rust too, so slowly does it.
Do not drill larger than the thread tapping drill diameter, iirc the screws are m8 so no bigger than 6mm drill.
This assumes you start on centre!
The captivating box on the inside of the wing could be well rust too, so slowly does it.
73T 911 Coupe, road/hillclimber 3.2L
Lola t 492 / 3.2 hillclimb racer
Boxster 987 Gen II 2.9
Lola t 492 / 3.2 hillclimb racer
Boxster 987 Gen II 2.9
- Nige
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Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
Also you can access the plate from the rear arches. There should be a cover over them to prevent crud ingress, might be worthwhile giving them a blast from the back and you'll also be able to see the state of the plate itself. If it's rusty then it'll probably crumble up if you put too much pressure on winding the knackered screws out.
Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
First step is heat. From a blowtorch or (as I use) an electric heat/paint stripper gun.
If they used Loctite, particularly the red variety, it is disabled using heat.
If that doesn’t work, use more heat
Welding a nut on the end add a load of heat and as a bonus gives you something to put a wrench on.
Drilling is a last resort & often doesn’t end well.
If they used Loctite, particularly the red variety, it is disabled using heat.
If that doesn’t work, use more heat
Welding a nut on the end add a load of heat and as a bonus gives you something to put a wrench on.
Drilling is a last resort & often doesn’t end well.
Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
M8 nuts purchased from the local hardware store today so will update with results...
Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
Success!
There wasn't enough thread to lock two nuts and I don't have access to a welder at home so I carefully drilled them out and once I'd got a small bit all the way through switching to a larger one would eventually get them turning and I could then pop them out the back of the wheel well. In the end 3 out of 4 needed drilling.
Ran a tap through the thread to clean up.
Door strikers off, what was left of the plastic removed ready to be replaced and refitted.
There wasn't enough thread to lock two nuts and I don't have access to a welder at home so I carefully drilled them out and once I'd got a small bit all the way through switching to a larger one would eventually get them turning and I could then pop them out the back of the wheel well. In the end 3 out of 4 needed drilling.
Ran a tap through the thread to clean up.
Door strikers off, what was left of the plastic removed ready to be replaced and refitted.
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Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
Nice one
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young but I'm just backdated yeah
I look pretty young but I'm just backdated yeah
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- Nurse, I think I need some assistance
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Re: Bolt drilling advice - Door striker bolts
Very satisfying!
73T 911 Coupe, road/hillclimber 3.2L
Lola t 492 / 3.2 hillclimb racer
Boxster 987 Gen II 2.9
Lola t 492 / 3.2 hillclimb racer
Boxster 987 Gen II 2.9