Tips and tricks to get bolts loose?

[DJW32]

Hey guys,

Anyone have a tip or trick on how to get the two fender bolts that are located on the bottom of the fender near the passenger side door off? These damn bolts are stuck; they won't move at all.

The car is a 67 Camaro.

[joemac]

Lots of good penetrating oil and maybe a little heat.

Heat is actually my preference but it might not be in a good spot for it. Also a decent impact wrench either air or electric might also do it. There is no replacement for good tools, this is one of the biggest reason I'm constantly cussing at my projects.

[garner67]

The absolute best penetrating oil is a 50/50 mixture of automatic trans fluid and acetone.

[MuscleRodz]

PB Blaster or Aero Kroil is my choice for rusted bolts

[JEFFTATE]

Soak them with penetrating oil of some kind overnight , then use an impact.
It should loosen and break the corrosion.
If that doesn't work , try heat..
Don't catch the penetrating oil on fire ..

[Mkelcy]

Don't catch the penetrating oil on fire ..

Wouldn't that just add more heat? :)

[formula]

if you have room, a huge breaker bar with an even huger steel pipe over it will show it who is boss. That was the only way I could get my subframe bolts out without breaking the cages--the extra torque allowed me to rotate them very slowly even though they were so rusty, keeping the cages intact.

[elitecustombody]

Wouldn't that just add more heat? :)

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

[The Rook]

I'm not as much of an expert as some of the guys on here, but I believe the old saying of "righty tighty and lefty loosey" applies here...maybe some of the more experienced builders could chime in and help?!?!?!?


Kidding....I go with the penetrating oil soak for a day or so and then impact if necessary.

[armourmark]

I would spray the bejesus out of it with PB blaster and then use a breaker bar. I would be cautious using the impact gun as you will probably just snap the head off if it's that stuck.

[68Formula]

When I did my body mounts (I realize you're talking fender bolts, but body mounts bolts tend to break cage nuts as mentioned before so it's a good point of reference), I thoroughly sprayed penetrating oil on them from both sides, every night for a week. I then used a breaker bar, and while chanting several four letter words, slowly applied increasing torque (no short bursts) until they started to turn. No stripped heads, no broken cage nuts. I didn't have a torch to apply head, but it would be good insurance to use in conjunction with penetrating oil and breaker bar.

Trying to jerk a breaker bar can... well... break stuff and an impact works in a similar manner as jerking a breaker bar (hence the term "impact.") Apply, nice...even... increase of torque.

[Mkelcy]

When I did my body mounts (I realize you're talking fender bolts, but body mounts bolts tend to break cage nuts as mentioned before so it's a good point of reference), I thoroughly sprayed penetrating oil on them from both sides, every night for a week. I then used a breaker bar, and while chanting several four letter words, slowly applied increasing torque (no short bursts) until they started to turn. No stripped heads, no broken cage nuts. I didn't have a torch to apply head, but it would be good insurance to use in conjunction with penetrating oil and breaker bar.

Trying to jerk a breaker bar can... well... break stuff and an impact works in a similar manner as jerking a breaker bar (hence the term "impact.") Apply, nice...even... increase of torque.

I've never heard of that technique. Do you need a pro?

[TonyL]

There's another way. You can use wax. A candle.

Heat one side of the bolt with a torch and then apply the candle (bees wax is better) to the other side of the hot bolt. The heat will suck the wax down the threads and insta-lube the bolt and it should come right out.

watch the video here (http://zedomax.com/blog/2008/09/29/diy-how-to-remove-rusted-nuts-and-bolts-easily-using-propane-gas-and-wax/)

It's an old school trick my dad taught me, and it's always worked.

[DJW32]

Soak them with penetrating oil of some kind overnight , then use an impact.
..

Jeff's reply for the win. I forgot how much I love my craftsman impact gun.

[DJW32]

There's another way. You can use wax. A candle.

Heat one side of the bolt with a torch and then apply the candle (bees wax is better) to the other side of the hot bolt. The heat will suck the wax down the threads and insta-lube the bolt and it should come right out.

watch the video here (http://zedomax.com/blog/2008/09/29/diy-how-to-remove-rusted-nuts-and-bolts-easily-using-propane-gas-and-wax/)

It's an old school trick my dad taught me, and it's always worked.

That is one hell of an idea. Thanks

[Vegas69]

if you have room, a huge breaker bar with an even huger steel pipe over it will show it who is boss. That was the only way I could get my subframe bolts out without breaking the cages--the extra torque allowed me to rotate them very slowly even though they were so rusty, keeping the cages intact.

Always good for the 23 year old advice. :1st: I agree though, that will break off the bolts and give you a chance to start over from scratch.

[rednecknate]

There's another way. You can use wax. A candle.

Heat one side of the bolt with a torch and then apply the candle (bees wax is better) to the other side of the hot bolt. The heat will suck the wax down the threads and insta-lube the bolt and it should come right out.

watch the video here (http://zedomax.com/blog/2008/09/29/diy-how-to-remove-rusted-nuts-and-bolts-easily-using-propane-gas-and-wax/)

It's an old school trick my dad taught me, and it's always worked.


I saw an article on this Done for a flat head engine build a long time ago!!!!alway's forget about it!!! thanks man I alway's go with mad heat and hope it breaks then drill it out and out a big ass oversized bolt in there .... But i mostly work on 4wd trucks so it's never a question of cosmetic's and usually bigger is better right...

[Vegas69]

I've used wax back in my tech days and it does work well in some cases.

[68Formula]

I've never heard of that technique. Do you need a pro?

For the four letter word chanting? I don't know. I was lucky enough that my grandfather was a farmer back in the day who fixed/built his own equipment. I learned words that I've never heard repeated by another soul. And many times I'd hear them all the way in the house while he was out over 100 yards away.

[John Wright]

Hmmm, fender bolts....does it really matter if you break the head of one of those off...then the rest of the bolt will fall out......will want to replace with new bolts and clips anyway....right?...


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/06/1600016599fenderboltsnuts7-1.jpg







Or is this where the nut is welded to the other side of the fender liner instead of a clip?....if so then no do your best not to break the bolt off, cuz you will then need to drill out the rest of the bolt.

[WS6]

In my experience with questionable bolts I have soaked with PB Blaster(I've yet to find a better penetrating oil) and then used either an impact or air wrench. If using the impact, rotate slowly til it catches then hit it and hold on. If you stop, you're screwed if the threads want to gall or are all crudded up with dirt. Using a hand ratchet may be enough but stopping and restarting is how the bolt gets stuck. I'm not sure why this is but I have my guesses. I just know that on many occassions I have done this without issue but used a hand ratchet and had issues. This typically occurred on exhaust bolts.

Glad you got i out David.

Tony, that's a great idea that I will need to remember in the future.

[LowBuckX]

On small bolts like 1/4 5/16 and sometimes 3/8 I just tighten them till the head breaks off and replace with new.