Loosen Up

[MonzaRacer]

Are there any old-timer tricks for breaking free stubborn bolts? I know of WD-40 and patience but when I have a ratchet at hand after a red-bull binge I forget about both and get a nice tatoo that turns different colors a few days later :dead:.

[pucci]

this stuff is the bomb.

when I know I'm going to be working with fasteners that haven't been touched in forever or are exposed to the elements I soak them ahead of time with this stuff.

get yourself a breaker bar or 2. I have an 18" & 24" and don't miss the days when I would fight with a ratchet or box wrench - when it comes to busting things loose, bigger is better. you can get them cheap from http://www.harborfreight.com/ .

after soaking sometimes I will give a sharp hit with a hammer & punch before wrenching. also, if something will not budge, I will try to tighten it. occasionally it will move just the slightest bit and that is enough to make it easier going the other way.

good luck.

:smoking:

[Tugger5000]

Sometimes heating it with a torch helps too, but it takes a long time...

With experiences I've had on my car (Flex Pipe, Wiper Assembly, Shocks)... I am going to buy new bolts/nuts if the existing hardware has been exposed to the elements. The Hyundai bolts/nuts seem to break/bend/strip too easily... There's nothing worse than getting halfway through a job and realizing that your hardware is fvcked.

[Edited by Tugger5000 on Dec 6, 2004 4:07 PM]

[MonzaRacer]

Thanks fellas,

I agree, alot of undercar bolts can be little SOBs when you rly want to finish something and they crap out on you. Unfortunately I never learned to play well with fire.

That Penetrating catalyst stuff looks promising and damn do I dig those breaker bars! :evil: (okay that might sound slightly wrong).

Tnx for da input

[Edited by MonzaRacer on Dec 6, 2004 4:53 PM]

[endlessmike]

pb blaster is the shit!

[Mad-Machine]

My breaker bar is an inch diameter scheadule forty aluminum pipe about a foot and a half in length. Fits over my rachets and the lug wrench... works EVERY time.. and it sits well in the spare tyre well.