Passat estate 1.6 bluemotion 2011 boot lock nut problem

[Ahac]

Hi, my boot lock is not locking and so I am trying to replace it. However, I cannot find a bit to fit the 2 nuts used to hold it in place. Seen it described as xzn 12 point spline, triple square etc. I bought 4 different types of m8 bits and none fit. Does anyone know the correct bit. It looks like it has 12 points if that helps.

[Crasher]

M8 XZN

[Ahac]

Thanks, that looks like it but I tried xzn and it didn’t work. I think maybe the thread on the nuts might be damaged so not getting grip on it. Looks like a trip to the garage

[Crasher]

Sometimes they are thread locked and you have to drill a 3mm hole down the centre to generate some heat and to release the tension on the screw.

[Ahac]

Thanks for the reply. There’s definitely something not right about it as nothing I’ve tried has shifted it all. Thought this was going to be a simple lock replacement. Looks like it will have to go in and let the garage sort it which is annoying as it is basically the removal of 2 bolts stopping me doing it myself.

[Ahac]

Sometimes they are thread locked and you have to drill a 3mm hole down the centre to generate some heat and to release the tension on the screw.

Just one question on this. Do you drill with a normal bit or do you mean to use a left handed drill bit. I’ve seen a bit online about using left handed drills then an extractor but I was assuming you mean to just use a normal bit

[Crasher]

I do have a stupidly expensive SNAP OFF left handed drill and extractor set which I reserve for life or death situations but in this case I would drill through with a 5mm which should release the thread lock and release the tension of the fastener with enough of the XZN left to wind the screw out.