How to Loosen Rounded Head Bolts

Rounded head bolts are extremely challenging to remove. You'll need special tools and a few hours to work on the bolts. Rounded head bolts are usually caused by over-torquing the bolt or improper removal procedures. When they need to be removed, the bolt head rounds off instead of breaking the bolt loose. The special tools you'll need are called bolt-out kits. A bolt-out socket has teeth on the inside of the socket that "bite" into the bolt head and let you remove the bolt. It will destroy the bolt, however, and you'll need a new one.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bolt-out kit
• Socket wrench

1. Test-fit a bolt-out socket to the head of the head bolt. You want the smallest-sized socket that will fit over the rounded-off bolt.

2. Secure the bolt-out socket to a socket wrench as you would any ordinary socket. Then, place the socket and wrench over the head of the head bolt.

3. Turn the bolt counterclockwise. As you do this, the bolt-out socket should grab onto the bolt head and break the bolt loose. Once it does, remove the bolt as you would any other bolt by continuing to turn it counterclockwise until it is free.

Tips & Warnings

• For specific information about your vehicle's head bolts, location and torque specifications, consult the particular vehicle's manual (see Resources).

References

• Automotive Tools Manual: Guide to Buying and Using Automotive Tools; Thomson Delmar Learning; 1999

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