newbie bolt question

Dan · #1 28-05-2006, 15:24

So i had the chance to work on the car this weekend and was planning to replace the headlight. Unfortunatley though, when i was taking off the bolts that hold on the headlight cover (after removing the black plastic surround) the heads of two of them twisted off! So now i've got two bolt shafts stuck in the headlight, flush with the edge on both sides.
So, how do i remove these then? Or should i cut my losses and buy a new one?

Thanks very much
- Dan

s13eater · #2 28-05-2006, 15:31

if you have no luck let me know as i have about 4 sets of lights.

turbomike · #3 28-05-2006, 15:47

you might be able to drill them out and retap the threads

Dan · #4 28-05-2006, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by s13eater

if you have no luck let me know as i have about 4 sets of lights.

how much for your best passenger side one mate?

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbomike

you might be able to drill them out and retap the threads

how do you go about retapping threads? thanks for the reply

bigtim · #5 28-05-2006, 18:39

Can you not tap the shaft round with a small dot punch after given it a blast with wd40

northerner · #6 28-05-2006, 19:52

best to drill and tap them as If you fit another, then You will have to get them Re-aligned at an MOT garage for the MOT like I did!!!

Dan · #7 30-05-2006, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by northerner

best to drill and tap them as If you fit another, then You will have to get them Re-aligned at an MOT garage for the MOT like I did!!!

have to replace it anyway, motor's gone in the original.

thnaks for the suggestions guys!

turbomike · #8 28-05-2006, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

how much for your best passenger side one mate?

how do you go about retapping threads? thanks for the reply

you will need to drill a hole directly in the centre of the snapped off bolt (with a drill a bit smaller than the tap)then use the appropiate metric tap to cut a thread