What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Ah. So this method is with the Bolt head already cut off - okay. That makes more sense. Thanks for the help man.

 

Yeah as long as they aren't made of Chinesium

 

Haha, really any daily use tool shouldn't be from HF or the bargain bin at ACE if your time is worth anything to you. Half of the time I use a HF tool I end up with a bigger problem than I started with.

 

I was using harbor freight star sockets and vice grips. No wonder the Bolt got stripped.

 

Yikes, the only sockets from them I'll touch are the impact sockets because they have thick walls and are 6 point, very little room for error. The e-torx they sell are okay for anything that isn't too tight but that whole fastener has a tendency to round.

 

They actually only had the impact e-torx in stock so that's what I've been using.

 

You can drill it out and use an extractor kit.

 

No, it’s one whole piece that comes off together. Just mask the triangular part and mirror up before painting. I got mine painted with my new paint job and left the triangle black. IMO looks sick.

 

So you painted it on the truck? Seems like it would be a little awkward to do as well as having to mask everything.
Any pics of it completed?
Thanks...

 

I own a first gen, so just thought I'd share with the bros.

 

I didnt realize Saleen and Raptor completely reconfigured the entire cab and added seats, and doors, and basically created an entirely new vehicle...hm.


Thanks for the lesson.....

 

Yeah but we're just trying to stay on topic, thats all.

 

@BartMaster1234 Give this a try with a disposable wrench:

 

Another possibility if you haven't cut off head. Clean slag off of bolt head and drill the smallest hole possible through the bar so it will fit over what's left of bolt head. Knock bar down onto bolt head remainder then run a weld bead all the way around. This method should allow good weld strength. Also before trying to loosen, use the torch on the case (as suggested by @Speedytech7).

 

I think another issue was that the welder wasn't getting enough penetration - I only have a dinky little 120v Lincoln Electric MIG welder. I ran out of shielding gas and haven't been able to get more gas so I've been using flux core wire.

 

Just went through this but with 2 of the 4 bolts.

Grind the tops off


Pull the stub shaft off


Grind 2 sides flat and remove with a good vise grip

 

I actually dont think Shittsburg sockets are that bad. I have a set of the 3/8 drive non impact that i use with my impact and have yet to break one.

 

Not surprised someone else had to go through this! Unfortunately the stripped bolt I have is the really short 1 inch one, not the long ones. There's still some bolt shaft but not much.

Why'd you have to remove the axle tube?

 

I think the reason why the HF sockets and hand tools aren't the best is not necessarily the quality of the tool, it's the hardness of the metal. That's one of the reasons why tools like snap-on are so expensive - their tools are made of some stronger metal alloy than most tools which tend to prevent the sockets and drivers to strip.

 

I feel like the method I posted still might work even if you aren't getting the best penetration. This will essentially form a socket around the item with molten metal. At least that's the theory.