While changing my oil filter one night, the heads of 2 of the 6 bolts holding up the skid plate under the filter just sheared off, leaving the headless bolts about a 1/4" within the thread, making it impossible to grip them with a vise or something. Lucky for me, these were the two middle ones, so the other four are holding up the corners. How the hell am I gonna get these suckers out? Are there any special tools to remove these?

Now, I'm really reluctant to take the plate off for another filter change. I'm going to change the bolts to stailess steel if I could get them out.

Vice-Grips or a tap and die kit.

Nissan used really poor quality hardware for these bolts. You should be able to find a stronger replacement at a hardware store.

The only problem is not over-torquing them and stripping the weldnut in the frame.

I'm down to 4 bolts as well.

There is a special tool designed for that called an "EZ Out" but they require you to drill a hole through the center of the broken bolt. I think that would be rather difficult on those tiny bolts.

Having done that, I can tell you it isn't that hard, but I might have just been lucky :rolleyes:.

If you use EZ Out, go down a drill bit size from what the guide tells you to use.You don't need much of a perch to get those bolts to come out. If you are drilling and the bolt starts to go farther in, you've probably got a big enough grip hole.

What someone should make are drill bits that are turned the opposite way of normal drill bits (why are all bits "right handed" anyway? )

Will Home Depot or Lowes have that EZ Out?

[ 01-14-2002: Message edited by: rolojr ]

A good hardware store will. Don't know about Home Depot. They probably do.

When you get the broke ones out take them down and get some grade 5 or 8 bolts. Try to torgue them to only 100 in lbs (8 ft Lbs)if you have a torgue wrench.

They are made. Check w/ a good hardware supply or one of the tool trucks (Snap-on or Mac). Also requires a reversable drill, obviously.

Nut


[ 01-15-2002: Message edited by: Nut ]

I'm down to 3. Lost one on the trail long ago, and had 2 of 'em break off with almost no effort when I was trying to remove them. I have the center one in the back, and the center and an outer up front.

I think they used recycled Hot Wheels for the metal in those bolts...
Brent

Sears has bolt and screw extractors.
I replaced my bolts with 6x1 button head/allen key/stainless fastners. (McMaster-Carr) The dome top is less prone to damage and tightening with just an allen key is less likely to damage anything.

dave and xtoy - not *too* tight

Tight is tight...too tight is BROKE!

I have a broken one as well and the dealer did that...

PJBAZ

When i was working as a field maintener for the Canadian National Railways, we had left handed rotation drill bits in our toolboxes. Since that i never have used an extractor anymore... It's so easy with a reverse drill. Most of the time, the bolt comes out before the drilling is completed.

You can get these left hand drill bit from automotive tool suppliers, they are about 5 time more expensive than normal drills and you may have to order them as they are not common.

You can prevent all this grief by leaving the skid plate on for oil changes. I change mine (2001 V6) without removing the skid plate. I use a large pair of Channellocks and remove the filter from the left side. It saves alot of work and problems with broken bolts.

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: John Doe ]

Home Depot should...I've never seen EZ out at Lowes, but that doesn't mean they haven't started carrying it.
Sears will definately have it (where I got mine)