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Suggestions for cut seatbelt bolt

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Old Apr 6, 2024 | 04:11 PM
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Default Suggestions for cut seatbelt bolt

I was stripping the interior and the seatbelt bolts in the back were not coming out at all even with my biggest impact. The torx bolt stripped so I just cut them out. Any suggestions on how I should mount it back. I was thinking of drilling a hole near it and mounting it with a rivet when I put it all back together. Any suggestions/thoughts. Thank you



Last edited by ajfran3; Apr 6, 2024 at 04:29 PM.
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Old Apr 6, 2024 | 11:17 PM
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I'd grind, file or sand the top of the bolt flat then center punch it then drill it through with a small drill to make the pilot hole then drill it out.
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Old Apr 7, 2024 | 04:54 PM
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I can’t tell how much bolt is remaining. But if there’s room, you could maybe get a small pipe wrench on it. Combined with something like PB Blaster, and some heat, you might be able to work it back and forth enough to get it out.
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Old Apr 7, 2024 | 05:30 PM
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The seat belt bolts are retained with permanent thread locker. You MUST heat them up to break down the thread locker, otherwise you WILL NOT get them out...
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Old Apr 8, 2024 | 12:39 AM
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On second thought....the second oldest trick in the book. Weld a nut on it. Seriously ask the old guys. It works.
l
If there's bolt stub sticking up, find a nut that fits cluse around the stub and have a buddy weld it on from inside the nut.

The bolts threads get some heat in the process and it gets a new head suitable for big wrenches or sockets. Seriously ask the old guys, millwrights and heavy equipment mechanics.
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Old Apr 8, 2024 | 03:10 AM
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Originally Posted by ijeeep
On second thought....the second oldest trick in the book. Weld a nut on it. Seriously ask the old guys. It works.
l
If there's bolt stub sticking up, find a nut that fits cluse around the stub and have a buddy weld it on from inside the nut.

The bolts threads get some heat in the process and it gets a new head suitable for big wrenches or sockets. Seriously ask the old guys, millwrights and heavy equipment mechanics.
the "old guys "wouldn't have cut off the bolts in the first place...at least I wouldn't have.
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Old Apr 8, 2024 | 10:46 AM
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I like the ways it's been going so far, lemme 'splain it.

​​​​​​If the seat belt bolt hole in the carpet isn't big enough to pass the seatbelt bolt head through without ripping, I'd rather cut the head off, pull the carpet to save it from heat damage and weld a nut on.

With a replacement seat belt in hand for my '95 XJ I'm going to be finding out if that's the case pretty soon.

The bolt on the donor rig wasn't too bad to break loose but there was definitely thread locker of some sort on it.
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Old Apr 8, 2024 | 11:57 AM
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That sort of thread locker is defeated if you heat the threaded part to ~ 400 deg f. I'd put some water on the carpet/ wet rag on the top of the bolt, heat the other end of the bolt from the bottom with a small tip in an oxi acetylene torch. I'd try that before cutting/ drilling etc
Also works great on the thread locked rear leaf bolts
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Old Apr 9, 2024 | 09:26 AM
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I have a suspicion that thread penetrates the body and has thread that has body coating on it. If so heat and clean thread from underside

cheap trick, induction heater...place tip of arc weld rod on item, turn welder on at main switch for 5sec, item will be very hot, no flame
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