Actually its a 6, or perhaps 8mm allen bolt that twists off when properly
torqued.

Karl
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Perdue" <marcperdue@adelphia.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2000 9:50 PM
Subject: Re: Shear Bolts?

> I got the old shear bolts out with the good old vise grips.  I'd probably
just
> go ahead and stick the old ones back in except for Karl's comments
regarding the
> safety issue.  If I buy new ones, for safety's sake, what kind of a tool
is used
> to tighten them up?  Do they have a regular hex head that twists off at
the
> proper torque or something?
>
> Thanks for all your great help everyone,
> Marc Perdue
>
> Karl Wolz wrote:
>
> > My understanding is that the bolts shear off at a particular torque to
meet
> > safety requirements.  If under-tightened, they will work loose and
you'll
> > have the steering column flopping around in your lap.  If
over-tightened, in
> > the event of a front end collision, they will not allow the steering
column
> > to move and you will be at risk of greater bodily harm.
> >
> > Karl Wolz
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Patrick Bryson" <patrickb@extremezone.com>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 3:42 PM
> > Subject: Re: Shear Bolts?
> >
> > > Marc,
> > > 1.  Shear bolts are bolts with a gripping head that breaks off at a
> > specific
> > > torque.  I believe this is done as a theft deterrent.
> > > 2.  Replace with new shear bolts from dealer or FLAPS.
> > > 3.  I don't know a specific procedure but I would start with a small
drill
> > > and move up until at least the head of the bolt is gone.  You have to
be
> > > careful not to damage the threads in the mating components.
> > >
> > > That is all I know.  Best of luck
> > > Patrick
> > > '85 Westy
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Marc Perdue <marcperdue@adelphia.net>
> > > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > > Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2000 11:52 AM
> > > Subject: Shear Bolts?
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi all,
> > > >
> > > > I'm in the middle of removing my dash to fix the heater blower fan
> > > > bearings, and a few other things long as I'm in there.  On page 70.5
of
> > > > my Bentley manual (for my '87 Westy), the instructions say that, in
> > > > order to get the steering column out, I need to drill out the shear
> > > > bolts that attach it just below the ignition switch.
> > > >
> > > > My questions:
> > > > 1. What are shear bolts?
> > > > 2. If I drill these out, what do I replace them with and where do I
get
> > > > them?
> > > > 3. What is the recommended procedure for doing this?  Any particular
> > > > size constraints on the drill bit?
> > > > 4. Are they like rivets where you use a small bit to drill out the
> > > > center then the rest just comes apart?
> > > > 5. Is there a special tool that is required to re-install these
shear
> > > > bolts?
> > > >
> > > > Think I'll go install the speakers in the front doors while I await
word
> > > > from you all.  I'd hate to think of drilling those shear bolts out
just
> > > > to find that I'd need to take the van somewhere to get them replaced
. .
> > > > .  :^)
> > > >
> > > > Thanks all,
> > > > Marc Perdue
> > > >
> > >
>