Torqued a bed 10mm bolt head straight off, body still in the bed...

Was trying to install a bedrack.

What's the solution, slowly drill out the bolt? Start with a small drill bit, and work my way up?

 

Yep, drill and penetrating oil.

Use a hammer and sharp punch to make a dot as close to the center as possible. That will give the first bit you use a chance to get started without squiggling around. If you can get your hands on a reverse drill bit set that would be even better

 

You don't have any sort of extractor? Also, is it possible to reach the back side of it with the tail light off?

 

Yea reverse tap

 

Left handed drill bits

 

Try a left handed drill bit. You might be able to get one at Harbor Freight. They also sell bolt extraction kits

 

I’d spray it with some lube and see if you can use a punch and hammer to spin it out or through, before I tried drilling it out.

 

Do that.

After center punching a dot start by drilling a small hole and keep going bigger. Get an extractor set and use the fattest one possible. I can post a bunch of pictures when I get to work tomorrow. If I remember...

Just what ever you do avoid breaking any drill bits or extractors in there, they’re hardened steel and good luck drilling or getting out a broken implement in there. Work slowly and be patient!

FYI my name is Alex too and I approve this message.

 

Maybe he could find a set made in the USA somewhere else. Just sayin' it for a friend who is out of work at a domestic tool manufacturer.

 

Same shit happened to me. I just drilled it out. Drilled a little larger and put a grade 8 bolt in instead.

 

doesnt the bolt protrude through the bed mount ?
Could he not put vice grips on the bottom of the bolt ?

I highly suggest using never seize on all the threads . Toyota hasn't changed the crappy bed mount design on the 3rd gen . Still the same junky mounting system the 2nd gen uses .
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-loose-bed-design-flaw-explanation.388873/

 

Put a nut on top the hole, spot weld nut to broken bolt. Works on broken exhaust bolts on engine

 

If it’s by the taillight, just remove the light and use vice grips to twist the rest out. That’s what I did. Those things are real easy to break off.

 

Handy tool... Self centering !

 

I agree with everyone on the left handed drill bits. But don't get a cheap set and same if you use an extractor. If either breaks in the bolt your problem just got worse. I've had better luck with the square type of extractor than the screw type.

 

This!

 

People are right, if you’re can access it from the behind then just try and thread it through. Just don’t booger it up the part that sticks out and then thread it back through the threads and mess up the threads that are in the bed.

 

Those self centering bits are awesome!

Any extractor bolt or opposite threaded drill bit tends to work only when centered in the hole, otherwise it's not trying to rotate the stuck bolt and usually chews it up or breaks. The above bits can work, but if the bolt is flush a drill guide and bushing can be used to get it as close to center as possible. Not sure the hole size but if it's 3/16 I'd try a 1/8, #30, or 5/32 extractor first. Other option is to just drill it up to next size and retap, but I'd try to pull it first. Also drill a pilot hole into the bolt before using the extractor, makes it much easier.

Source--spent years doing aviation rework, I've drilled hundreds of these out. Gets real fun when you have to use a right angle reverse zephyr while jammed inside a confined space.

 

These work great but you need to get a good set. No cheap Amazon crap for 35 bucks that’s going to twist or create more problems.

 

Spray with Kroil. Let sit for a day and just tap it with a hammer every time you walk by.

Then use an Easy Out. If you can fit one in that area used a drill guide to endure you are drilling straight and in the center if the bolt.