Allen socket stripped - Help!

Aziego · 05-03-2003

Murhpy's law striked again! I was trying to swap the rear swaybar of my civic when the darb allen socket of the passenger side stripped. I was able to take out the end link bolt of the driver side pretty quick but the passenger side was a little stubborn. After working the bolt about 3/4 of the way out the darn socket stripped on me. There is not even enough grip to tighten back the bolt.

What should I do? How do I best fix this? I am thinking of replacing the entire end link, that is if the other side holding it to the rear suspension frame don't strip too.

Is my car safe to drive with the sway bar hanging loose on the passenger side. I figure the performance might suffer.

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Boilermaker1 · 05-03-2003

If you can get a big enough easy out (stripped screw removal tool), you can probably get the bolt out... then just replace it. I wouldn't drive with the sway bar loose.

VNlilMAN · 05-03-2003

maybe vice grips would work? usually it'll get the job done.

InanimateCarbonRod · 05-03-2003

If you have a dremel tool w/ a cutoff wheel, you can grind a slot in the allen head. THen just use a screwdriver.

Mex · 05-04-2003

were you using metric tools? very important that you always use metric when working on your civic

Aziego · 05-04-2003

I am going to dremel a slot in the head so that I can at least tighten back the nut. I was using a metric allen key.