Mark944na86

I have an S2 with power seats, each held in with six 8mm bolts with a 6mm hex socket head.

One of the hex head bolts has been rounded out. I've got a 1/2" drive 6mm driver, I tried hammering it in a bit to get a bit more bite, but no succcess, and I don't want to damage the head further.

Fortunately, it's in a relatively accessable position: rear-most on outside track near the door.

So: What is recommended method for removal? Some sort of "easy out" bit? Something especially designed for damaged hex socket bolts? Cutting a slot across the head and using a screwdriver?

Ideas and experiences welcome.

Dougs951

I ended up hammering in a torx bit into the bolt.

JohnKoaWood

And if that doesn't work out for you, goto Lowes, buy a new bolt to match one of the others, drill off the head, remove the seat, and use a pair of vice grips to remove the shank of the bolt...

ELLSSUU

ditto! The original bolt ate up a craftsman easy out on me.

Mark944na86

T40 torx size? (that's about 6.65mm point to point diameter).

Luis de Prat

Do you have an extractor set? If you do, I recently had the same problem with a brake caliper allen head bolt on my scooter and hammering the most suitable sized left-hand spiral extractor into the opening and twisting it got the bolt to turn.

jerome951

I've always had good luck pounding in a larger torx or allen bit or pounding a socket over the outside of the head.

Alternatively,
1) grab the outside of the head w/ a vice grip
2) grind 2 opposing flats to put a wrench on it

Mark944na86

The tricky thing about this bolt is the head is below the level of seat track. So can't get anything onto the outside of the head, just the inside.

Mark944na86

I've ordered a set of extractors from ebay, so that's one possible solution. The torx head driver also sounds promising, if I can figure out the right size.

PorscheDoc

Hammer and a small chisel. Pound it counter clockwise.

APKhaos

T40 Torx will get it. Hammer the T40 firmly into the hex head. Extractors are far less likely to work.

jerome951

Ahh, I forgot. Been several years since I had stock seat rails in my car. The chisel or torx tricks listed above should work.

Before you try either, put the bolt just forward of this one back in and tighten it down. May relieve some of the tension on it and ease extraction.