I am trying to put on some spec miata HT latches and right now im removing the old ones. I grabbed the tightest fitting screw driver (big ******) and begin turning. No big deal at first then HOLY ****. I can barley turn it. I manage to get one out and strip 1 other. Red threadlocker those mother ******* How the hell am i suppose to get those bitches out?

Im pissed

 

same thing happened to me so I just put on the side ones on and left the top ones. A friend of mine with them tapped em out or something. i think its really the only choice once you strip em.

 

They were a total bitch on my car. I ended up have to use a screw extractor to remove 3 stripped out ones. I got two out and the 3rd the screw sheered in half. And during that process i managed to break the screw extractor 2. So on my front passenger side latch i only have 4 out of the 5 screws.

 

wait your suppose to put thread lock on the hardtop bolts?

 

They're always a bitch, held on with some bad *** thread locker when both parts are incredibly clean at the factory, and torqued tight. Keep them tight when you reinstall them, but do yourself a favor and replace them with standard hex bolts. Not as pretty, but much easier if you need to get them off again.

Not sure if this helps, but I remembered this post from the Targa build.

 

i hate those torxhead bolts i actually had to dremel the stocl latch around the bolt break off the latch and put a gator grip around the stripped bolt it was a mission.

 

Impact gun (low setting) and phillips/torx head sockets ftw. Allows you to push into the hardware head with both hands to keep it seated.

 

No danger to the fiberglass with an impact? I'm gonna have to try that. I couldn't get my latches off for the life of me, but fortunately I quit before I stripped the screw heads too badly.

 

A 3/8 mini impact with the rocker paddle switch (similar to the one below) on the lowest setting "bump" them out. And yes they were caked with thread locker. I've done this twice now with success.

 

My buddy used a soldering iron and heated them up pretty good, then let them cool and got them out. Make sure to let them cool first.

 

Gonna try the last idea. Thanks

 

update:

Just got all the bolts out except for 1. Its was the first one i stripped. I started moving it again (with all my weight on the bolt while the hardtop was resting on my knee) and thought it was going to be gravy. I slipped and was gone. Tried an easy out but there is nothing easy about these *******. Gonna grind a slot with a dremel and try to get it out with a flat head. Any other suggestions fellas?

 

if you have a micro-torch you can heat them up and they come out easier. it loosens up the threadlocker.

 

I used the soldering iron. The last one is stripped completely and thats the only one i need out now. I just got my Typhoid, Tetanus, and Hep A shots today in preperation for a vacation and my arm is sore. I need this last ****** out

 

The tool you are looking for is called an impact driver:

Impact driver - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Are you guys not even reading my posts? Twice ive mentioned that there is only 1 bolt left and its stripped completely.

 

Drill.

 

Dremel 2 perpendicular slots in it and use an impact driver.

 

dremeled a single slot and used a flathead.

/thread

 

Little late for OP. In additional to heating, put a candle to it and let the it soaked up some wax. This method works like a charm, most of the time.