Seat Removal, bolt problems
 

For the first gen, are the bolts for the seat rails metric or imperial. Both 14mm and 9/16" seem to fit about right. I got the front bolts out with the help of a pipe on the wrench. About the back bolts though...I think they are somewhat stripped. It seems like the wrench grips it, but then it just slips and twists the metal a bit. Any tips on getting it loose? Tried WD-40...

Please, can you help? Normally I am patient and would screw around myself but I'm afraid to strip the bolts.

I am willing to bet that it is 14mm. I just removed all the seats in my P5 and the front rails were 14mm. Being that is Japanese, I would expect it to be metric also.

Did you have any trouble getting the bolts off? I guess mine are just old, maybe I need a stronger attachment to prevent it from stripping the bolts any more, or maybe i will find a wrench thingy with a longer handle at home depot instead of just putting a longer pipe around the handle. :dunno:

I had no trouble. Be careful to not break the bolts as drilling them out will be a bitch. Do you have an impact wrench or know anyone who does? Most tire shops use impact wrenches to do the lugs, maybe swing by there and ask if they would help to loosen the bolts for you. The impact wrench should be able to break those bolts loose. Definately let them soak in some good penetrating lubricant for a while too.

i did wd-40 overnight

I was just using those silver ratchet thingies with a 1/2" drive attachment, sorry I am not good with names of stuff, I just know what they do, lol

I will investigate an impact wrench, thanks :)

chastan, using the SOCKET and ratchet is probably your best bet...but what you need to ensure you have to keep from striping the bolt head is a 6 point socket.....what you probably have is a 12 point socket...which is what most standard sockets are....look in the hole of the socket....it should be a HEX just like the top of the bolt....that way it will take a lot more force and not strip off the corners of the bolt...and if they are already stripped a little...it will still work.

It is a 6 point... I didn't have this problem with the front ones

I suppose it's not slipping exactly, it grips on pretty well, but after I apply enough force, it just kinda goes "POP" and then it slips to the next groove thingy. I don't know why this is being so difficult... I'm not a total numbskull, but :dunno: Maybe I can try and find a friend who can help :spank:

Thank you for your help though, I do appreciate it ;)

i had the same problem when i was taking out my seats and putting in the MX-3 seats. :red: one of the bolts was FUBAR, so i just grinded the bolt head down and used a drill bit to drill out the rest of the bolt. :bt:

if you are spinning a 6 point socket on the head of those bolts....they are shot....the next tool to try IF you can even get it in there would be a pipe wrench....and if that don't work....do as Tito did....cut them off, take your seat out...and now start the repair of the stuck bolt.

I had the same problem in my car...ended up stripping the hell out of the bolt. I just cut the head off with a dremmil tool and was able to take the rest of it out with plyers.