These damn bolts won't budge
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,763
Likes: 2
From: Connectivette
These damn bolts won't budge
:mad I'm trying to remove my drivers side hub/bearing, it's on its way out. These are shots of the 3 Torx 55 bolts keeping the hub on. Excluding one of the pics they appear to be fairly free from rust.
I have spent at least 6 hours trying to get these loose. They have been hit for 3 days with PB Blaster and heated. I haven't heated the bolt head side as I don't think I can get in there with the propane torch. I have been heating the side closest to the hub (thread side)
I didn't remove the drive shaft. I'm not having any problems reaching the bolts.
Is there anything else I can try to get them loose. I have been using long breaker bars.
As a side note the 36mm nut that is suppose to be torqued down to about 165 ft. lbs. was just a hair over hand tight :eek: That may be my culprit. I'll have to check the 36mm nut on the other side also
I have spent at least 6 hours trying to get these loose. They have been hit for 3 days with PB Blaster and heated. I haven't heated the bolt head side as I don't think I can get in there with the propane torch. I have been heating the side closest to the hub (thread side)
I didn't remove the drive shaft. I'm not having any problems reaching the bolts.
Is there anything else I can try to get them loose. I have been using long breaker bars.
As a side note the 36mm nut that is suppose to be torqued down to about 165 ft. lbs. was just a hair over hand tight :eek: That may be my culprit. I'll have to check the 36mm nut on the other side also
Drifting
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,801
Likes: 2
From: St. Paul MN
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (chucks88)
Is there enough room to get the torx driver on it and put an extension on and then use an air impact gun? I can't remember if there is enough room. I changed one of my wheel bearings and didn't have any trouble. Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (chucks88)
Soak that sucker in Liquid Wrench, put an extension on Torx bit and give it a copla raps with a small ball peen. Do this several times if necessary.
I used this method on my stuborn EGR pipe Torx bolts and it worked like a champ.
I used this method on my stuborn EGR pipe Torx bolts and it worked like a champ.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (chucks88)
You have to buy yourself an air compressor. For about $300-$400, you can buy a decent compressor and you'll be using it for years. I bought mine at Costco many years ago and I use it for everything. Go air my friend, you won't regret it.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (chucks88)
Even if you don't have a compressor yourself, chances are you know someone who does and has a portable air tank as well. Even a 10 or 15 gallon air tank is enough to run an impact wrench to bust these loose.
Take it from a puny little nerd. I tried stuff like this with all variations of cheater bars before I got the compressor. I now take the air tank and impact with me when I go to other folks houses to help 'em wrench on stuff.
Mark
Take it from a puny little nerd. I tried stuff like this with all variations of cheater bars before I got the compressor. I now take the air tank and impact with me when I go to other folks houses to help 'em wrench on stuff.
Mark
Pro
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 509
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From: Santa Barbara ca
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (M2001)
You have to buy yourself an air compressor. For about $300-$400, you can buy a decent compressor and you'll be using it for years. I bought mine at Costco many years ago and I use it for everything. Go air my friend, you won't regret it.
I got the 30 gallon 6hp one from Sears. Works nice! :yesnod: Althought I would really hesitate to let a torx bolt have the impact wrench. Those things stip out easy.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (Bluevette85)
I got mine off using a 24" breaker-bar then sliding a 2 foot piece of metal pipe 8 inches over the bar. With that much leverage, it came off!
It was too short for leverage.
You need a good 20-24 inch bar and some good clearance from the floor to crack free the bolts.The longer the bar,the easier it is.The really long breaker bars at 20+inches has always allowed me to get bolts free my impact guns had problems with stripping.
Since youre on the drivers side,your bar may be hitting the floor to loosen.That was my main problem.Couldnt get the bar anywhere without it hitting the floor or a suspension part.You need to get the car a little higher if thats the case and once it cracks free,it will come off with a regular ratchet after.
And yes,do soak the front of the bolts with pen. oil overnight.Dont use heat on aluminum parts.It will make it worse.
Remember,the longer the bar,the easier it is.The 12-15 inch bars wont loosen them back there.
:)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,444
Likes: 0
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (chucks88)
All the suggestions should work, impact driver, impact gun, breaker bar with pipe on handle. I didn't notice anyone suggest heating with a hot torch. Bolts come out like butter when red hot. If the heat will damage anything around or behind, or is near fuel / flamable stuff don't use it!
[Modified by Jay Axson, 1:28 AM 6/8/2002]
[Modified by Jay Axson, 1:28 AM 6/8/2002]
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 14,577
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From: Michigan in the summer, Florida the rest of the time
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'11
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (chucks88)
I just bought a couple of "helpers" - went to Home Depot and had them cut me two pieces of pipe (one 1.5" diameter and one 2"), 24" long. Instead of threading the ends, they just chamfered them to remove the sharp edges.
Cost 12 bucks for the two. Now I have kong-sized leverage. :lol:
Brad
Cost 12 bucks for the two. Now I have kong-sized leverage. :lol:
Brad
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,286
Likes: 4
From: Guam
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (GS Ragtop)
If you heat it. Don't heat the bolt. The object is to heat the area around the bolt without getting the bolt up to the same temperature.You need to get it red hot for best results. As it cools, squirt motor oil, not liquid wrench or penetrating oil in the area where the threads are. Sometimes you can bang the round side of a ball peen hammer against the area surrounding the bolt a few times also to loosen the molecules. I have never met a bolt that could not come off with a hot wrench(torch). Usually, it will appear to be only finger tight after the heating session.
:cheers:
:cheers:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,763
Likes: 2
From: Connectivette
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (Sharky Guam)
After my coffee it's back down to the garage. I'll try raising it up a little higher to get more leverage. I do have a pipe I slip over my breaker bar but that still didn't seem to work.
Thanks for everybodies response and to Jon for offering me his pipe :lol:
I'll keep ya updated. :seeya
Thanks for everybodies response and to Jon for offering me his pipe :lol:
I'll keep ya updated. :seeya
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,763
Likes: 2
From: Connectivette
Re: These damn bolts won't budge (chucks88)
I'm progressing! I got one out. Next Dilema... I don't have enough room for leverage to remove the top bolt. This bar that connects to the center of the carrier is in my way and I want to remove it. I remove the nut and thought the bar would pull right up, but after further inspection it is in there on an angle. So then I jacked up underneath the shock to raise it thinking the angle would change enough for me to pull it up. It didn't.
So if I start threading the nut, on the bar that goes back to the center of the carrier, will that change my angle so I can move that bar that goes back to the center of the carrier. :crazy: for leverage?
These photo's may help.
So if I start threading the nut, on the bar that goes back to the center of the carrier, will that change my angle so I can move that bar that goes back to the center of the carrier. :crazy: for leverage?
These photo's may help.