Easy Out - LOL
 

Has anyone ever had any success with these things?

I've used them twice, and both times they broke off in the screw I was trying to remove, making the job twice as hard after they broke.

Tonight I was trying to back out a rusted license plate screw from my Lexus. I drilled the hole and put the "easy out" in there. Turned it ever so gently (since I'd broken one off before trying to remove a broken muffler screw from my weed wacker) and yep, it broke off in the hole.

Now you can't drill anymore, because I think these things are harder than a drill bit. I had to go in to the backside and remove the welded nut that held it all in place.

I'll never use one of these things again.

Most of the better brands will hold up good. I had the same luck with off brands. I always use the largest size I can and still soak with PB Blaster.

I have had some luck with easy outs but more often then not I break them. I have totaly given up on them and will slowly drill out a bolt untill it falls apart inside. If its done right and you have some luck you wont hurt the threads that are there. Depending on the area if you can drill it out, heat up the whole area then put something cold on whats left of the bolt, sometimes the shock will let it come loose very easily.

Yeah like heating a bearing and freezing the shaft for a press fit.

I usually end up using reverse twist drill bits.

If they don't come out while drilling they usually loosen enough for the ez-outs