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Author Topic: seat belt removal?  (Read 4741 times)

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Offline darjeeling

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seat belt removal?
« on: June 24, 2011, 05:51:22 PM »
I just destroyed my torx T-50 bit trying to remove the female ends of my seat belts where the strap connects to the body.  None of the heads turned at all and it took a lot of strength to twist that bit.  Is there some trick to getting these things out that I don't know?

Offline mudkicker715

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2011, 05:58:32 PM »
Pen oil from underneath. Rust is awesome  :-\  :P



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Offline txjeeptx

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2011, 11:41:51 PM »
2nd the penetrating oil, also could try some application of force in the tightening direction first, just a bit, to try and break the threads free, then back the loosening direction. Keep a lot of downward force on the breaker bar head to keep the bit as deep as possible in the bolt, like maybe get a helper to push down while you do the turning, and buy one better grade T-50 torx bit, somethin at least Husky er Crapsman(although I break them, too). If the bolt gets rounded out, you'll have weld a nut to the head of the bolt to be able to get it out, and welding that nut on will require a lot of prep to protect the rest of the interior for ten seconds of zap.
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Offline Whuntmore

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2011, 11:18:18 AM »
2nd the penetrating oil, also could try some application of force in the tightening direction first, just a bit, to try and break the threads free, then back the loosening direction. Keep a lot of downward force on the breaker bar head to keep the bit as deep as possible in the bolt, like maybe get a helper to push down while you do the turning, and buy one better grade T-50 torx bit, somethin at least Husky er Crapsman(although I break them, too). If the bolt gets rounded out, you'll have weld a nut to the head of the bolt to be able to get it out, and welding that nut on will require a lot of prep to protect the rest of the interior for ten seconds of zap.

x3 and eggcellent info there txjeeptx.

Offline jim

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2011, 07:50:34 PM »
I too have one I can't get out.   Someone suggested heating the nut but I didn't want to possibly burn the carpet.   I considered grinding or cutting the nut but haven't been able to reach it with the tools I have.  I have a nut splitter but it's too small.  I would buy a larger one but don't know whether I could reach the nut even then.
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Offline BenM

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2011, 09:53:08 PM »
When I did it, I destroyed two bits and several bolts. Penetrating oil and rocking the bolt back-and-forth. Hit it squarely and sideways with a small hammer too. Keep working at them and have more patients then I did.

The nut is welded on, so I don't know if splitting is a good idea.
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Offline Tennessee_Farmer

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #6 on: June 29, 2011, 09:28:32 AM »
Use an impact wrench.

Offline GRONK

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #7 on: June 29, 2011, 09:43:22 AM »
The quality of the torx bit is what will get you through this.  I have stripped more inexpensice bits than I can count, usually ruining the nut too.  Penetrating oil is your friend.  Of all of them on the market, I have not found anything better than a product called "Mouse Milk"  It's in every tool bag I own.  Aviation mechanics turned me on to it and I've never ooked back.

Mouse Milk has kept the welder dusty.
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Offline Tennessee_Farmer

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #8 on: June 29, 2011, 11:45:17 PM »
Again, try an impact wrench.  I had one like this that I struggled with for days until trying an impact wrench and it came out with little difficulty.  I may have sprayed it with penetrating oil, but it was the wrench that did it.

Offline carguy87

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2011, 10:48:50 AM »
A couple rounds of penetrating oil followed be a short blast from an air hammer to help vibrate some of the fluid in there and get the dust out, then a tap of the impact and the bolt will seem to fall out.

Offline craigp29690

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Re: seat belt removal?
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2011, 01:16:31 PM »
As previously stated, IMPACT WRENCH.  Sometimes brute force will strip or break bolts, the impact gun will do the trick.  Another thing I've been using on rusted bolts is a 50/50 mixture of acetone and transmission fluid instead of Liquid Wrench or WD 40 like some use.  This was posted on another car forum so I figured I'd give it a try.  Worked way better than the two products listed above and is a whole lot cheaper in the long run.  But be careful handling the acetone, it is highly flammable. 
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1966 Rambler Classic Wagon              1981 MAZDA 626 (RWD)
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