Hello,

One of the long bolts for my valve cover has the head of the bolt rounded so that the 8mm deep socket just spins and does not back the bolt out. I'm not really sure the best way to approach. I called the MINI dealership near me and they said that I would need a special set of bolt removal sockets, which apparently clamp down to the bolt head as it is being backed out. The guy I talked to said these sets are expensive and usually start at 10mm. Seeing as how I would need an 8mm deep size, I am hoping there is an alternative. Has anyone else has encountered this issue? How did you handle it?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Drill it and then use a fluted extractor/easy out. Those bolts are not torqued that tight so it should come out pretty easy.

 

Is it one with the threads on top of the bolt head, if so get a pair of 6mm nuts and lock them together, then use an open end wrench to loosen the bolt.

 

Yes if it is one of the extended bolts that the wire harness clips fit on this should work.

 

I ended up succeeding with an 8mm as designed but in the event I didn’t, would I have to cut the extra thread off and then drill into it?

 

If the threads were still good, BlwnAway's suggestion should work. I would add some good thread locker to the double nut combination and make sure the points line up so that a socket would fit over.

 

Had this happen to a few. Removed the head of a bolt with a drill, removed the valve cover, and used a vice-grip to spin the threaded remainder out. Super easy.

 

Those thing rust and then get really soft, I have removed them before with and extension and a really small bolt out kit. Small bolt out set size #2. But if the heads are really bad then its drill and tap out.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...on-2006-s.html


Hit them with a little grease once a year, what happens is moisture puddles on those bolt head locations and then rust the heads, over time they get pretty bad.

 

When I did my valve cover gaskets, I had the same issue. I just used a pair of vise grips to back it out, not that much torque on those bolts. I used a 7.5mm deep socket to put it back on. I would have used the 7.5mm to take it off, but I didn't know that I had one...lol

 

I had the same problem. The bolts are very pricey to replace! The short ones are about $17 apiece. I was able to hammer an older smaller socket onto the stripped bolt head to get mine out. The threads were shot on the studs so no double nutting here. I got by with vise grips and then bought a few new ones so I won't have to go throight that again.