Hi all - located this issue a few weeks back and have only just had time to try and resolve - with no joy. Battery brace hex bolt is spinning in situ without biting against the captive nut (or thread or whatevers down there) with the result of not being able to get the brace off....got a little finger in and can’t feel anything spinning, but can’t see the workings to get a grip on anything as subframe is in the way, can’t drill it out as it’s just spinning.... Any ideas?
I had the same problem. I drilled the bolt out even though it spun. I think eventually it must have gripped, maybe the plastic melted. I was able to get the remains of the bolt and the captive insert out. I knew it would make a mess of the hole and it did, breaking through the side and looking like the crater of a volcano. I repaired it with a threaded insert I bought off ebay and some two-pack plastic putty which sets hard. To get the alignment right I put the insert on the replacement bolt and coated the bolt shaft with vasaline, then stuffed the crater with the putty around the bolt and insert. Then when it was in position I unscrewed the bolt, After the putty had set, a little filling to neaten the wound and then painted it matt black. Persist with trying to drill the bolt out out. Accept the mess you will make of the hole and surround but you have to destroy the bolt head at least and remove the insert by making the hole bigger. Use a sharp drill. Good luck.
Ok thanks very much - I’ll have another go at it, I have some left handed bits so I might try that as well, if I’m gonna destroy it anyway...! Much appreciated
I’ll give that a go first thanks - I just figured with it spinning using just a t-handle it would have no effect, but as above - if I am destroying it anyway, anything’s worth a go. cheers for the reply.
I see quite a few that have failed like yours. You can drill it etc. But it is possible to flick out the other end and rotate the brace itself to get at the battery. Unplugging the BBS connector helps. Not perfect, but saves making a mess of the plastic moulding, which it will do.
That was what I did at first, but it was never going to be a permanent solution. It's tight for space getting at the battery with the brace removed let alone with the brace still partly in the way. And something like that, being beaten by a twopenny insert, won't do. Drilling out made a mess of the hole as you say, but it is repairable and with the brace screwed back it can't be seen. I'm happier knowing it's fixed.
Thanks Neil - I do want to perm repair but would use this in a pinch if needed until I get coman’s fix...is it a brute force job or is there a knack to flicking it out from the offside?
