Stripped bolts on my Driveshaft

[bmwcalvin]

:
So I have been working on trying to drop my differential out for a couple of days. Everything was going smooth until I got to the driveshaft nuts. I took the open end 17mm to them and got 2 of them off, then rotated the driveshaft and tried the other 2 and they wouldn't budge. I put so much force on them that they just rounded out. I kept rotating the shaft so I could try different sides to no avail. So then I went and bought a "nut cracker". Well there is next to no room for it to fit on there, but I did get it in on one side and it just kept coming off and rounded out the sides even more. So then I just decided to try and drill one of them until it cracked. Well it never cracked and my drill doesn't seem to want to go in any further I drilled in to 3 different sides of the nut and it still won't crack. So I am thinking of just cutting the nuts off, which means cutting the bolts.. Any ideas or feedback?? I have also been thinking of just dropping the differential out with the driveshaft detached from the transmission and then trying to work on it.. Not sure what to do, but I need to get my car back on the road.. If I do cut them off am I going to have to replace the whole back half of the drive shaft?? Or can I just replace the bolt?

[bme30]

The bolts are pressed in, AFAIK. So they can be replaced.
I wonder if the PO put some thread locker on them? If so, try to heat it up using plumber's torch? and try a vise grip since they are already rounded off.
Good Luck!

[jlevie]

The major mistake was in trying to get the nuts off with an open end wrench. Always use a box end on those or any other high torque fastener. And a 6-point wrench or socket is better than a 12-point.

[bmwcalvin]

Couldn't fit a socket up in there... I used the box end and the open end kind of went back and forth.. Guess I'll try the torch idea I have tried vice grips as well just haven't heated it up. If I have to grind it off guess I will...

[jlevie]

You can't get a socket on the drive shaft bolts, but you can use a box end wrench.

[bmwcalvin]

So today I just dropped the differential out and separated the drive shaft from the center. It came right out no problem! Once it was out I realized that the bolts on the drive shaft were all bent, from the differential bracket breaking. So I cut off the two nuts that were left with an angle grinder and knocked all the bolts out. BMA order me some new bolts and nuts, unfortunately they won't be in till tuesday. Which is all good because I can swap out my suspension (Which created the problem, Thanks PO) and I was thinking about picking up an LSD differential since I have put so much time in to this thing already...

[bmwcalvin]

Picked up the LSD today! Can't wait to get my car back on the road!