Stubborn bolts

[Glen C.]

I've spent the day removing my seats and other items to get to my lap belts but now can't get the bolts to budge. I'm currently soaking them with liquid wrench and heading out to Lowes to buy a breaker bar but are there any other tricks I should try?

Glen

[Dennis C.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

Glen,

Step up to a product like Kroil penetrating oil and give it time to work. You might have to spray it multiple times and maybe even tap it with a hammer to break it free. It is also sometimes helpful to slightly tighten the bolt or nut first.

Good luck.

Dennis

[Joe L.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

I've spent the day removing my seats and other items to get to my lap belts but now can't get the bolts to budge. I'm currently soaking them with liquid wrench and heading out to Lowes to buy a breaker bar but are there any other tricks I should try?

Glen

Glen-----


Try an impact tool.

[Russ S.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

An impact wrench is my suggestion also BUT don't hammer away on it for more than a few seconds. If you do and it doesn't quickly come loose it is very likely to break the spot welds loose on the nut. If with a impact tool, it doesn't come loose almost immediately I would first try tightening it for a second or two and then loosening it. If it still doesn't come loose soak it a couple days and then retry. I don't know if you can get between the body and the frame to put a wrench or vise grip on the nut to hold it from breaking loose or not.

[Christopher K.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

Glen,

I've found the best product for me is P B Blaster. You can find it at any auto parts store. For tough bolts I'll hit it and wait a day, then once again on the second day. It really does help to wait, even though you don't want too! Also, as Russ said, tighten the bolt a little first, then try to loosen. I think for seat belt anchors I'd try to spray it from under the car too.

Good luck

[Glen C.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

Thanks everyone. I picked up some P B Blaster and hit them from the top and bottom. I'll hit them again on Tuesday and then give them a try as recommended on Wednesday night. I'm going to stop after work tomorrow and pick up an impact tool. I'm sure I'll need it for more than just the seat belts before I get done. Plus any excuse to add a new tool to the garage.

[Terry M.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

Don't bother spraying PB Blaster or Kroil from the top. All that will do is make the head of the bolt slippery, and your carpet smell for a long time. When using an impact be sure to have a high quality NEW 6-point socket. A worn socket, or a poor quality one will succeed in rounding off the head. "There Is A Difference." is a Snap-on motto for a reason. You can get good quality tools from other sources -- Matco & Cornwall for example, but the stuff from Harbor Freight, Ace, or even Sears will lead you to problems with stubborn fasteners. I used to use all those brands, but I have learned the value of professional quality tools the hard way.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

Glen,

Step up to a product like Kroil penetrating oil and give it time to work. You might have to spray it multiple times and maybe even tap it with a hammer to break it free. It is also sometimes helpful to slightly tighten the bolt or nut first.

Good luck.

Dennis

I agree about Kroil but no other oils. Don't get in a hurry. Spray a SMALL amount it the base of the head & wait a day or so & repeat if needed. At my shop we were always snapping off bolt heads using impacts, flame wrenches ETC on permanent molds that no anti seize was used. When the molds were heated up the threads would swell. Kroil was the only thing that worked.

[John H.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

All the above are good suggestions, but just do not rush the job. Soak, tap, budge. repete.

[Glen C.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The combination of several applications of kroil over a few days and an impact wrench id the trick.

[Pat B.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The combination of several applications of kroil over a few days and an impact wrench id the trick.

I like to rebuild outboard motors and it is always entertaining to get carbon steel bolts out of aluminum blocks after salt water exposure! I have tried all of the above good suggestions and another one you might try next time that I have had good luck with is "freeze off", at autozone, ect. You need to follow the directions, spray 20+sec while tapping with a hammer, it has a chilling effect that sometimes works to crack the corrosion seal. Good luck and hope this helps.

[John D.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

Aero Kroil penetrating oil is by far the best stuff I have ever used. Trouble is I found it too late in life. PB Blaster was my choice for many years until i met Aero Kroil and Sili-Kroil. Rusty FI units/ fittings come out sooo much easier. JD

[Mark H.]

Re: Stubborn bolts

Aerokroil is da bomb!

Mark