God Damned Shear Bolts!

[plotloss]

Right, so last job of the current crop of jobs was to fit a steering column lowering bracket.

Quick scan of the Haynes manual suggested that my car was fitted by those nice chaps at Rover with a shear bolt to stop someone swapping the steering column.

So out with the Dremel to cut a slot in the shear bolt head, get the biggest screwdriver head ratchet socket I could find, mate the two up, give it a good push and SNAP! there goes the socket (so much for Halfords Professional Lifetime Warranty!).

Its been soaked in WD40 since Friday and the bloody thing wont budge a single millimetre.

Any ideas?

Matt.

[plotloss]

Fatboy said: Angle grinder? Usually what I've had to resort to. I've got this joyous task awaiting me at some point.

Try grinding a flat spot on the shear bolt and gripping it with waterpump pliers - that's worked for me in the past.

Ahh good plan!

Might see if I can take the edges off with the dremel then...

Are these things made of ultra tough steel? Could I just use bigger and bigger drill bits to get the head off and then just knock it through?

Matt.

[plotloss]

This damned thing is now driving me

Had another crack last night, got a screwdriver on it, attached spanned to screwdriver and a bit of pipe to the spanner to add some leverage and it just wont budge at all.

I think its going to have to be a drill job. Joy.

Matt.

[plotloss]

Nah dont have any suitable chisels...

May try and borrow a few off the neighbours at the weekend though.

Whats up with the Griff?

Matt.