How do you remove a stuck bolt?

[DougK62]

So this bolt that I need to remove isn't budging. I have access to both sides of it - the head and the threaded end. You're supposed to just whack the threaded end and it pops out, but this guy is REALLY seized in there. I've been working on it for hours. I drench it in penetrating oil. I heat it with a torch, I cool it, I beat on it some more. What else can I do? Is there some sort of C-clamp device that I can buy to pop this thing out? Really frustrating - I'd like to hear what you all have had success with!

Thanks.

 

[iamwiz82]

There is no nut, it's just seized to the hole?

Heat solves all problems. Are you getting it hot enough? Heat it up and then immediately smack it with a hammer on the bottom of the threaded side.

 

[Colt45]

What is it in.. how big... etc..

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
There is no nut, it's just seized to the hole?

Heat solves all problems. Are you getting it hot enough? Heat it up and then immediately smack it with a hammer on the bottom of the threaded side.

Yeah, it's seized to the hole - the nut came off fine.

I'm using a propane torch to heat it up. Is there something I can buy to get it hotter?

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: Colt45
What is it in.. how big... etc..

It's 3-4 inches long, maybe 3/4 inch thick. It's connecting the bottom of a strut to the steering knuckle.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
There is no nut, it's just seized to the hole?

Heat solves all problems. Are you getting it hot enough? Heat it up and then immediately smack it with a hammer on the bottom of the threaded side.

Yeah, it's seized to the hole - the nut came off fine.

I'm using a propane torch to heat it up. Is there something I can buy to get it hotter?

That should be enough, though acetylene would be better. I keep the heat on there for 3-4 minutes before giving it a try.

 

[BoomerD]

oxy-acetylene will certainly get it hotter than propane...(it IS called the blue-wrench or the hot-wrench!) heating the bolt may make it swell rather than loosen it...try heating the surrounding area instead.
If penetrating oil isn't helping, and heating it isn't helping, you may have problems...have you tried using a wrench to turn the bolt?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: Colt45
What is it in.. how big... etc..

It's 3-4 inches long, maybe 3/4 inch thick. It's connecting the bottom of a strut to the steering knuckle.

Sounds like the pressure from the strut is pushing on the bolt so it cannot slide out. Did you already disconnect the top of the strut?

 

[gingerstewart55]

I'm guessing the car is up on jackstands, right? Suspension is hanging in the air? Try putting a floor jack or something like that under the steering knuckle and lifting it just a tad.....maybe take some of the pressure off the bolt and it may come out easier.

Of course, you have tried just unscrewing the bolt already, haven't you? Sometimes that works, too, instead of just pounding it out.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: Colt45
What is it in.. how big... etc..

It's 3-4 inches long, maybe 3/4 inch thick. It's connecting the bottom of a strut to the steering knuckle.

Sounds like the pressure from the strut is pushing on the bolt so it cannot slide out. Did you already disconnect the top of the strut?

Yep, top of strut is already disconnected, and I can rotate the strut around this one bolt - it's seized to the knuckle.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
oxy-acetylene will certainly get it hotter than propane...(it IS called the blue-wrench or the hot-wrench!) heating the bolt may make it swell rather than loosen it...try heating the surrounding area instead.
If penetrating oil isn't helping, and heating it isn't helping, you may have problems...have you tried using a wrench to turn the bolt?

I wish the bolt could turn, but the head is round - can't even get a wrench on it. It's one of those bolts that you're just supposed to tighten the nut on then it grips the inside of the hole to hold it tight. A real pain!

 

[DougK62]

Where can I pick up this oxy-acetylene? Is this something I can get at an AutoZone, Parts America, etc.?

 

[911paramedic]

I'm confuzzled now. Is it stuck in a threaded part, or non-threaded?

If all else fails, drill the mother out, but I would think sufficient heating would do the trick if it's in a smooth hole.

P.S. I read your first post again, like 82 said, hit it immediately after heating, don't let it cool first. Try not to make it look like a rivet though...

 

[BoomerD]

OK, when I posted, I didn't know thie was on a strut...do you have enough thread to "double-nut" it? (torque one nut against another...locks them together.) You can often get enough of a lock that way to turn the bolt enough to break it free.

BTW, oxy-acetylene is oxygen acetylene...a gas welding set-up. Most shops have them, not always cost-efficient for a home-shop to have.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic
I'm confuzzled now. Is it stuck in a threaded part, or non-threaded?

It's a locking bolt - it has grooves on it so it will stay in place in this non-threaded hole. The bolt is just threaded on the end for the nut to go on.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
OK, when I posted, I didn't know thie was on a strut...do you have enough thread to "double-nut" it? (torque one nut against another...locks them together.) You can often get enough of a lock that way to turn the bolt enough to break it free.

BTW, oxy-acetylene is oxygen acetylene...a gas welding set-up. Most shops have them, not always cost-efficient for a home-shop to have.

Unfortunately, there is not much thread exposed - and I've all but destroyed it trying to get the bolt out.

 

[Injury]

Dunno if it should work the same on cars parts, but I'd just drill the damn thing out at this point. Take as much as you can off with a hacksaw or Dremel cutting wheel and drill the rest.

Doesn't sound like it's going to be pretty no matter what works to get it out.

 

[BlackTigers]

Have you tried using a cheater bar to the end of the ratchet for more torque?

 

[Mr Pickles]

This thread delivers.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: Injury
Dunno if it should work the same on cars parts, but I'd just drill the damn thing out at this point. Take as much as you can off with a hacksaw or Dremel cutting wheel and drill the rest.

Doesn't sound like it's going to be pretty no matter what works to get it out.

Ugh, that's what I'm afraid of. I have a 4" angle grinder that I can use to cut the head off of the bolt. And then I guess just go in with a metal drill bit. That doesn't sound fun. I've never encountered such a persistent bolt!

 

[Greenman]

It sounds to me as though you're trying to drive out a threaded stud that was pressed into place. Are you sure the stud needs to come out?

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: Greenman
It sounds to me as though you're trying to drive out a threaded stud that was pressed into place. Are you sure the stud needs to come out?

Oh yeah, it comes out. There is no other way to replace the strut, and I've already done the other three corners. But it is sorta pressed in. You know how a wheel stud looks? The bolt looks like that but just longer. So it's threaded most of the way, but has grooves towards the head to help it grip into place as you tighten a nut onto it.

 

[livingsacrifice]

I actually bought one of those craftsman sets for damaged bolts and it helped so much. All this while working on the exhaust on a car. I had basically rounded off a bolt entirely and that set got it out. It was a bit pricey though but the amount of times I have used it basically paid for itself.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_1...ars&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

 

[Squisher]

I'm going to parrot what gingerstewart55 and iamwiz82 said.

Heat it and make sure the part that this bolt is stuck to is properly supported. Chances are that the part is absorbing the shock of your hammer. Also, are you hitting directly with a hammer or using some kind of drift/punch? You might get a better "hit" if you use a punch that you've dished out a little so that it cups itself over the bolt and doesn't like to glance off.

<---got broken bolts out every day all day long for 18 years.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
There is no nut, it's just seized to the hole?

Heat solves all problems. Are you getting it hot enough? Heat it up and then immediately smack it with a hammer on the bottom of the threaded side.

Ha, ha. No you dont want to heat it up. You want to heat up the metal around it.