T-Hex bit broke off in bed mounted tie down point

Was attempting to take off the rear tie down point in the bed to install Total Chaos Bed Stiffeners. T-Hex bit broke off in the bolt. Tried the strongest magnet I have available (not too strong). Couldn't get it out. Any suggestions to get this bolt off?

Don't need to salvage the bolt as the bed stiffeners come with replacement bolts anyways.

Is there a specialized bit I should look at to drill through the broken bit? I've seen that mentioned online but unsure the best approach. I appreciate any suggestions.

 

I would try prying it out with a magnetic screwdriver. If that doesn't work, you will have to drill it out

 

Looks like you’ll have to weld it ti a piece of metal to take it out

 

Use the flat side of a ball peen hammer, hit the bolt square on the face. Don’t go crazy, just enough the shock the piece loose. Maybe use a pick and a magnet to finagle it out.

 

Soak in wd-40, wait, get a thin pointy chisel and hammer and strike the center to loosen up.

 

These Two combined seem like the easiest so I'll give them a try. Hoping that will be enough. I've procrastinated on this a bit and have left it sitting too long so it's rusted a bit.

If I need to resort to drilling, what kind of bit should I use? Not really familiar so any links or anything to a good bit would be super helpful.

Edit: Or does a standard bit do the trick?

 

I added bed stiffiners to my taco and I used a 3/8 in bit with a 3/8 in to 1/2 in adapter to my 18 in breaker bar. Low torque is the answer. If you get an impact gun, you’re going to break the tip. It’s like removing a rusty lug nut.

 

If it has to be drilled out use a 1/8” cobalt bit and wallow the bit until the center is drilled out. Then jam a punch or screw driver in the hole and wiggle it out.

 

This was actually going to be my first suggestion as well.

 

Large vice grip pliers.

 

Can you grab the bolt head with a pair of vice grips and remove?

 

I think you meant high torque, low impact?

 

Either drill the center of the bit out to the ID of the star, then take a punch and crush the outer ring inward on itself until you can grab it with vice grips.
OR
Get and angle grinder to grind a slot in the head of the bolt and use that to remove the whole bolt and use the new fastener.

 

Drilling the broken bit will be difficult. Torx bits are hardened. Most off-the-shelf drill bits are just a little harder than frozen butter.

Before drilling, I'd put a torch on it. Heat it up to just short of cherry red, let it air cool. This should soften the bit to make drilling it a little easier.

You could also try a punch to give the broken bit a light tap to "unscrew it", tap in the clockwise direction. This may allow the teeth to unlock from the bolt head.

Another trick is vibration. Use a pad sander to "shake" the broken bit. Place a screwdriver against the bit, place sander (without paper) against the screwdriver handle........

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

I was able to get out by spraying WD-40, letting it soak and then using a sledge hammer pounded it loose with a couple hits. Could pry it just a little bit with a flat head screwdriver but couldn't get it out. My magnetic screwdriver wasn't strong enough to pull it out. So went and bought the strongest little $10 magnet from Home Depot and was able to fish it out with that.

Happy I didn't have to resort to more extreme measures. Again, appreciate all the help!