How to remove a bolt when the welded nut spins
When a hidden tack-welded nut snaps, it spins freely with the bolt and prevents you from tightening or loosening components like a rattling snorkel. Standard workaround attempts—such as using a pry bar for downward force, going in from the inside, or removing wheel arch guards—frequently fail because the broken nut remains completely unreachable and ungrabbable.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Using a small pry bar on the washer to apply downward force to see if it would grabDid this help you?
- 2Trying to access the bolt from the insideDid this help you?
- 3Removing wheel arch guards to reach the fastenerDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“The snorkel rattles, I cannot tighten or untighten the bolt. I've tried going in from the inside.”source ↗
“Chatgpt told me to go up through the wheel arch. I removed the guards but still couldn't reach it.”source ↗
“The last bolt I heard a snap and now it won’t tighten or loosen.”source ↗
“I believe the nut that’s tack welded where I can’t see broke so it keeps turning every time I turn the bolt.”source ↗
“I tried using a small pry bar on the washer to apply downward force to see if it would grab but no luck.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 17Why am I paying for broken bolts during a car repair?
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- 3Spark plug thread spinning in place
- 10Mechanics overtightening wheel lug nuts with impact wrenches
- 4How to remove a rounded nut without special tools
- 2How to loosen a shallow stuck locknut with no clearance