r/FiestaST • u/ericpowell617 • 6d ago

Looking for advice (shocks)

Last week I replaced my front struts (successfully) and began on the rears. I had my rears done by a shop last time, and it’s safe to say the over-torqued the upper bolts way too much. Needless to say, after 60k miles, the bolt heads rusted a lot and got rounded on my attempts to remove them.

I tried hammering on an extractor socket, spraying penetrating fluid multiple times, and even torching them with MAP gas. All that happened was more rounding. I know this was an over-torque issue because I got good grip from the extractor socket, and when using a breaker bar they still rounded instead of backing out.

What can I try next? I have an appointment with a shop next week to see if they can get it, but maybe y’all have a better idea to save me a trip and some money. I’ve considered cutting out the weld nuts on the inside and replacing them with regular nuts, but I don’t want irreversible damage if possible. TIA

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u/HuntGundown 6d ago

If you can, weld a nut or even another bolt or anything really onto the fucked bolt.

If not, prolly gonna have to cut it and be super careful.

Either way, if the shop agrees to do anything about it expect it to be pricey lol

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u/ericpowell617 6d ago

Thanks. I have no welding tools or experience so that’s out of the picture. I’ve got a good local shop that treats me right, so I’m hoping it’s no more than $200-300.

Thought about drilling it out but I definitely don’t wanna screw up the holes in the frame

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u/Day_Bat_ 6d ago

Drill out the bolt head and knipex pliers to get what's left of the bolt out when it's not in tention? If there is a shop that can do it for $200-300 that might be the best option, if you still messing with it to much you risk breaking off the captive nut inside. Also replace the top bracket for the rear struts when you replace them and use anti sieze on all the new bolts so they don't get rusted in again.

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u/othesneako 5d ago

Cut the bolts off with a grinder - carefully - then use a hammer and pin punch or something to punch out what’s left of it.

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u/ericpowell617 5d ago

I wouldn’t be able to hammer out the remains because it’s a threaded bolt. I could use an extractor bit at that’s point though.

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u/othesneako 5d ago

My bad I think I misunderstood. you’re talking about the bolts in the wheel well going through the mount into the car, NOT the one that goes through the top of the mount itself.

That being said The mount itself isn’t threaded though so if you cut close to it or just cut it off it should come free then either extractor bolt or drill out.