FIA roll bar bolts above rear damper

[Guest]

I am currently trying to replace my tall FIA roll bar with a standard FIA item, however removal of the bolts above the rear damper is proving impossible.

I have tried the ground down socket technique with no luck, and the irwin bolt grips.

 

The problem is clearly a combination of the shallow bolt head, the surprising amount of torque required and difficult access.

 

It seems that when I have the required extension bars fitted to get decent leverage,too much flex causes the bolt grip/sock to just slip off the bolt head. I have been consious not to make too much of a mess of the bolt heads as this will just make the situation worse. I have also tried a a second pair of hands applying upward pressure to the soket whilst I try to rotate it, but this also is to no avail.

 

Has anybody got any other suggestions that may help as I am getting severley frustrated?

 

Thanks in advance,

Graham

[Jonathan Kay]

Are you past the stage of soaking it in penetrating oil?

 

Jonathan

[richy]

Can you get a hydraulic jack underneath the socket extensions to apply upward pressure? And a large person inside the car so you can apply extra force 😬

Richy

[oldbutnotslow]

Second Richy.

3/8 sockets are smaller and easier to work with than 1/2" To make matters worse the 1/2 head bolt sits in a small recess.

Socket Extension bar and breaker bar on the extension . Place a jack under the breaker bar and apply upward pressureand turn. They will normally come undone using this method

This is what they look like

 

Edited by - oldbutnotslow on 17 May 2014 20:58:34

[tin duck dave]

3/8 socket and wobble bar extension to help. Essential to be really square on the bolt head and hold it square when applying force or socket will jump off head.

[tbird]

may have to remove mine in near future, is there a reason that a thin head bolt is used, could it be replaced with a hex or torx head bolt , or indeed a normal head

 

Tim

 

Edited by - tbird on 18 May 2014 17:52:56

[Adrian Williams]

Tim

 

The slim head is to clear the top eye of the damper, a standard hex, cap, torx etc will clash.

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies, I really felt that the trolley jack method was clutching at straws.......but it worked! I now have a super cool double diaganol FIA roll bar fitted, and a tall FIA bar in vgc will be for sale very shortly :-) Once again thanks to the POBC!

[tbird]

Adrian Thanks

 

Tim