I'm having a difficult time loosening the head bolts on the engine from my 1997 Boxster. I've ruined 2 Snap-on Torx tools, and one Craftsman Torx tool in the process. The Craftsman tool loosened three head bolts then pretty much shattered. The Snap-on tools stripped the heads of two bolts and have "bent" the splines on the Torx tools. Any tips on how to remove the head bolts would really be appreciated.
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHHead bolt removal problems
1 matching discussions were examined; no attributable action/outcome evidence was detected. No consensus or repair conclusion is claimed.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Read captured repliesInsufficient extracted evidence does not mean there is no answer in the original discussions.
1 matching discussions · 5 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
5 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
- Pelican Parts: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T113718Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Quotes source post: 7230804
This is normally a situation where I paste my standard recommendation to buy Snap-On torx socket bits, so assuming you have new 1/2" drive torx bit's the only thing I can recommend is getting the longest breaker bar that's practical for better leverage & less slippage. Are the bolts T50? If so they should be discarded for the updated T55 bolts & I guess you know better than I why.
You can also drill the head of the bolt off and, of course, upgrade as Bill says. They make a nice loud popping noise when the head snaps off during the drilling process that sounds like a .22!
Guess I've been lucky -- I usually use any old T50/T55 and pull out my 4' extension bar and get a nice chest workout. I do tap the sockets into place to make sure they've seated well. Make sure you are applying pressure along an even plane and not Torque the Torx. I usually put one hand pushing down the ratchet end and the other at the end of the bar. and push only with my right while trying to keep the left from allowing the ratchet to move. Now I'm sure I've jinxed myself and I'll be in your boat on my next teardown. Mike
Thanks for the suggestions for removal of the stubborn and stripped head bolts. As you noted I know why the bolts were upgraded to T55 and I'll gladly go that route when the heads go back on. I'm looking forward to the sound effects when drilling out the head bolts that my new Snap-On Torx sockets won't remove. Glad that Snap-On has a replacement guarantee! Bill
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
