"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
06/16/2019 at 19:47 • Filed to: None
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"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
06/16/2019 at 19:47 • Filed to: None | 0
| 17 |
Replacing the struts on my girlfriend’s 97 Camry. Everything going relatively smoothly till now. I got 3 corners done in a couple hours but then I got to the driver’s rear. I had to set the sway bar end link nut on fire after soaking it in PB blaster to get it off. Got the bottom bolt/nut loose but can’t get the top bottom loose. I’ve partly rounded off the bolt and broke an adapter. Any suggestions appreciated.
I’ve thought about taking off the caliper to make more room but with every nut and bolt has been a fight on this corner I’m afraid to go down that path. I started with the torch again but it’s right next to the brake line so I stopped. I’m ok with cutting the bolt out if need be since it’ll need replacing anyway but wouldn’t know how to go down that path
someassemblyrequired
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 20:01 |
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Do you have a six point socket? It will reduce the danger of rounding it off further.
Nibby
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 20:01 |
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97 camry? that’s enough reason to marry her
Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 20:06 |
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That bolt isn’t all that rounded, I’ve gotten worse off lol. I would say impact gun is your best bet, it should buzz it off. But without access to air tools , a nice 6 point socket on a long breaker bar should do the trick. Should it still slip, consider those stripped bolt sockets that are kinda splined. My set was like $20 at harbor freight and has come in handy countless times for shit like that. I just did coilovers on my Miata today so I dealt plenty with suspension bits. Thankfully it's a California car though so everything kinda just came off easily. Adjusting the spring perches on my coils though, that was a major pain!!
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Funktheduck
> someassemblyrequired
06/16/2019 at 20:14 |
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It’s the kind with lots of points. I thought more was better
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Funktheduck
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
06/16/2019 at 20:15 |
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I’m using an impact gun. It just spun on me.
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Funktheduck
> Nibby
06/16/2019 at 20:15 |
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It’s a car of circumstance vs choice
VincentMalamute-Kim
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 20:20 |
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I would try removing the caliper bolts for more room. They use higher quality metal and may not be as bad to remove as you think . Then maybe you have enough room for the torch - use scrap metal as a heat shield for the brake line.
I wouldn’t depend on an impact - you can’t feel when you’re about to snap the bolt. If you’re able to get the bolt red hot, it almost always comes out.
You can keep doing the PB Blaster for several days. The vibration of the impact for short periods helps with getting the PB Blaster/Kroil into the interstices .
I go for heat and vibration - I hate drilling out snapped bolts. If you do snap the head off, I’ve had luck welding a nut onto the remaining threads. The heat of welding unseizes the rust and the nut gives you something for your wrench.
Boxer_4
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 20:26 |
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12 point is good for light duty jobs and makes it easier to get the socket on the bolt head, especially in tight areas or where you can’t see the bolt head. 6 point is better for stubborn bolts since the socket has additional contact surface which grabs on the meat of the bolt head, rather than mainly the corners.
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someassemblyrequired
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 20:48 |
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Boxer_4 is bang on with his explanation. Each type has its advantages (12pt for tight access/speed), with 6pt being better for situations where you have to apply lots of torque (since the contact area is much larger).
merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 21:26 |
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They also have some sockets similar to the metwrench sockets of awhile back that grip the sides of the bolts, not the points.
Craftsman has sockets like this, but not as extreme. HF has the open end/box wrenches with the same profile. Something like that on an impact should do the trick.
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merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 21:29 |
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Silly question, and I assume this isn’t the case because you’ve done the other side, but is the bolt splined into the knuckle and the nut should be spun off? I’ve done that before and struggled only to find out I was fighting splines on the bolt, but the nut spun right off.
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merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 21:30 |
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Sorry forgot to post what I was talking about.
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Funktheduck
> merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
06/16/2019 at 22:31 |
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All 3 corners are done. Just this one left . I don’t have a wrench big enough so I used a short socket on an extension to hold the nut and then my deep socket on the impact gun on the bolt end. All the rest came off in seconds. This corner is just giving me crap. It’s soaking in PB blaster right now. Gonna make a run to HF tomorrow to see what some options are tool wise. Home Depot and Lowe’s are both across the street from HF if I can’t find what I want.
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merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 22:56 |
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Sounds good. Lowe’s carries craftsman now, so they may have the convex shaped 6 point sockets. That may be all you need. Just a bit of a inward curve to the socket face may be enough to shift the forces from the tips of the bolt to the face. Heat is also your friend. I had watched a few penetrant test videos on the old you tubes and the best way to break a stick bolt was to apply heat.
Just take care to keep protected if you use a non impact socket to break the bolt loose just in case it shatters on you. Not likely, but you never know.
66P1800inpieces
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
06/16/2019 at 23:24 |
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I’ve had the pleasure of working on two California cars. Love bolts that just come off like they were put on yesterday.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> Funktheduck
06/16/2019 at 23:49 |
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One more tip: try tightening the bolt just a bit. Sometimes that gives enough movement to break the rust bonds.
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Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Funktheduck
06/17/2019 at 00:30 |
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Splined sockets and a soak in liquid wrench should do the trick. That attached to an impact is how I've gotten the most corroded bolts off the bottom of my other car. If that doesn't work, it's likely the bolt will just break leading to drilling anyways.