Gator Grip Socket

[Kev]

Has any body used one of these with success? Ebay link: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gator-Grip-Univer ... dZViewItem Trying to change the brake discs on the audi and on the front passenger side the 2 17mm bolts for the calliper bracket are solid. I've tried everything I can think of to try and remove them, but they are not giving up. Now the heads are wrecked and everything slips. I'm a bit sceptical about these kinds of tools but willing to try if they work.

[tenkfeet]

I have heard of people use them with some success on chewed fastners , dont know what it would be like on seized bolts.

Have you tried heat , shocking the bolt with a big hammer .

A bit of grinding compound on the bolt may help to get grip .

[Kev]

I've just found some reviews on amazon, from them I dont think it'll be up for the job. Yeah I've tried heat, soaked it overnight with plus gas, shocked it with a hammer. I've also managed to tighten them a bit - they did creaked but cant get anything to grip. I've managed to hammer on a 16mm multi hex socket with grinding paste, thats just slips off, cant get a 16mm single hex on. Might have to file the head down to try and make it fit. If thats doesn't work the only other thing I can think of is welding a socket on to the bolt. Bloody car

[Victor Meldrew]

Had one ages ago, reasonable to work with but they dont last long if you use a lot of torque on it...

Always handy to keep one in the tool drawer... there are better things out there.

Try METRINCH, I use these regularly.

[Rich H]

Grind the heads off, remove the caliper and then the stretch on the bolt will have been releived, they might then come undone. I broke several tools trying to shift driveshaft bolts on the 924, after I chopped the heads off the remaining shanks were only finger tight.

[hendeg]

I've got some Loctite Freeze and Release that you could try. It works by freezing and therefore contracting the bolt. Failing that we've also got a new set of sockets that can be used to remove bolts with knackered heads - the only come as a set though.

PM me if you want to try out the Loctite.

Gary.

[r10crw]

kev if your still stuck give me a shout, I have sockets that have a reverse screw on the inside, belt them on and they will tighten onto the head as you grip. Cheers Craig.

[fd]

No chance . . .

Depressingly the reverse cutting 'sockets' mentioned above may be your only option . . .

Unless you're using a 12 point socket which . . .

a) you should never use on something tight

because

b) they always damage the bolt head

So - if you're not using a 6 sided socket - get one then apply LOTS of heat . . . and use a proper length breaker bar . . . but be gentle with it . . . many tiny movements and lots of burning WD40 . . . it should be that hot . . .

Always works . . . if anything will . . . and is less likely to shear the head off he bolt rendering your caliper brackets scrap . . .

Fd

[Kev]

Craig I might take you up on that offer, I've got something else I want to try today depending on what time I get up (working nights), but if I get stuck I'll give you a shout if thats ok

Thanks for the offer Gary , but I'll stick with the blow-torch for now. I'll pop in when I need the new bolts though.

I'm off to bed now

[ninja]

i had one of these

a good idea in principal but once you try to put a bit of torque through it the gator grip just mangled itself

ninja

[Kev]

Guy at work had a set of Irwin Bolt Grips, great piece of kit. The bolts came out in seconds. Cheers for the help guys