bolts are rusted on

[daveymark]

There are 2 little ragamuffins that just don't want to get loose on the rear side of the cat using a socket wrench, 18v drill, or hammer. So I've got the bolts soaking in PB Blaster, I plan on getting a 6 point wrench and breaker bar tomorrow. Then I'll try to attack these bolts. Any other advice besides taking a torch to the bolts?

90 miata

 

[fbrdphreak]

You've covered it. Let the PB soak and try the breaker bar.

You may consider dropping the whole exhaust, or whatever you can get to un-bolt easily. That's what I ended up doing on my Subaru to get the O2 sensor out - the rest of hte bolts were so rusted it's not funny. Then again, dropping the manifolds off a flat four is a lot easier than an inline or V-configuration engine

 

[Bartman39]

Before you put the twist to them just take a 3lb shop hammer and hit the head of the bolts real good but as flat and square as you can...

I saw where you had mentioned the hammer but after they soak in PB blaster all night just be sure to land a couple of good hits and they should come out...? Otherwise find a buddy that has a torch and put the Victor wrench to them... :thumbsup:

 

[Eli]

If you have a socket that fits the nuts very well, ie: you aren't going to strip it, just get a breaker bar. You'd be amazed at how much easier it is if you've got even like 12 extra inches. lol

 

[thedarkwolf]

ha I just replaces the gaskets on my miata's catalytic converter last weekend. PB blaster is good stuff but a cheap propane torch works better. Heat them cherry red and they will either come off or break.

 

[iamwiz82]

I prefer to use heat. It works wonders.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Breaker bar works wonders.

 

[daveymark]

breaker bar did the job. Went to home depot and grabbed one, but it just didn't feel right. so I put it back and grabbed the next one which had to be as long as my arm. Came off the first time I tried it.

I heart physics

what a great excuse to spend money on tools

 

[The Stigenator]

i have an old scale torque wrench for use as a breaker....good stuff..plus you can see how much effort you need to open that stuck bolt

 

[Aikouka]

Heh I remember trying to take off some of the bolts on my talon's exhaust... God that was hell and a half. I think I was just doing it to get the down pipe out of the way, but I was able to remove some of the holders and shift it away rather than remove it completely.

Glad you got it off .

 

[steppinthrax]

There is a tool that I've used with rusty bolts called craftsman nut/bolt remover. They are pretty much sockets that have sprial shaped teeth that cut into the bolt to remove it. They work quite well. Another thing you can use is a nut splitter. You will have to replace them anyway.

 

[OS]

i had a similar problem, the bolts on my cat would not come off even after soaking it in liquid wrench, wd40, whatever combined with like a 2 foot breaker bar. I was told at that point you really need a blow torch.

 

[THester002]

breaker bar or heat which ever you wanna play with