What do you do for stubborn or stuck bolts?

**Springthing** · 09-26-2008, 10:48 AM

Just curious to know, with so many shadetree mechanics (and a few professionals if I'm not mistaken?), what do you do to loosen up stubborn and/or rusty bolts or nuts? Penetrating oil? hammer? Swearing?

Currently I've got 02 sensors to take out and one in particular right now is a mule. Not only that but the angle of attack on it leaves something to be desired. I can't put my whole body weight into trying to break the seal between it and the exhaust. I've got the usual corrosion on it and it's actually strong enough to be allowing the wrench, with the force I AM able to put to it, to start rounding off the hold it's got on the sensor, if that makes any sense?

I'm just not sure if there are a few tricks anyone uses in situations like this?

I'm on my second round of PB right now. Trouble is I don' want to spray it on a hot exhaust and am trying to keep the exhaust somewhat warm to make it easier to take the sensor out.

Thanks!

**retired2001** · 09-26-2008, 03:29 PM

Sounds like you've tried everything I would have. By now I would have probably "broken" something! (either me or something mechanical). Good luck!

**Davandy** · 09-26-2008, 03:41 PM

I would try WD40 or something similar and let it sit for a night next day get the exhaust hot and try it then.

**Pete95Sierra** · 09-26-2008, 09:07 PM

keep using the PB blaster, the stuff is amazing. be patient. when i did the lift on my cherokee i PB'd for 5 days before i started to try to take bolts out.

**tbplus10** · 09-27-2008, 05:21 PM

In this situation if you cant get a force multiplier on the wrench (long pipe or something similiar on the handle) then PB Blaster is the only choice.
If you can get something in there with the wrench try tapping on the area around the fastener while trying to screw it out.
I did one use a rope attached to the handle of a wrench, running through some pulleys and attached to a come-a-long attached to the bumper of my other car to pull out a bolt. Warning though if you do something like this the rope is under a lot of tension when loaded.

**moogvo** · 10-09-2008, 02:11 PM

Take the impact wrench to it! When I was changing the seat belts from one seat to the other, there was GOBS of thread locker on the bolts and they just wouldn't come loose. I hit 'em with the air wrench and while they held their ground for a few seconds, they came right out!

**heaviechevie** · 10-09-2008, 07:44 PM

One thing that I do is use a burnsomatic to heat it up a little more around the bolt. My boss got us some stuff to try but I can't remember the name of it right now but it freezes the stuborn bolt and help to loosen it. It comes in a can just like PB. The other option for an O2 sensor would to get the socket for it if you have enough room.

**dwill3015** · 10-09-2008, 08:11 PM

All great suggestions. Get that loose yet?

**Springthing** · 10-09-2008, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by dwill3015

All great suggestions. Get that loose yet?

Yep! Combination of PB and light knocking with a smalll hammer. It's the one that's at a combersome angle where larger tools are hard to get in there and it's even harder to get any leverage. But it's out and got replaced!

Thanks for all the suggestions!