Pontiac: Removing a stuck/frozen bolt!

I read this as meaning you still have a bolt head left -- it's just
rounded. Right? In that case, swallow just a BIT more pride and dig
out the trusty locking pliers, aka ViceGrips. Nice new ones, with sharp
jaws.

Keith wrote:

Did you spray the bolt? Kroil Oil is the best soak it a couple hours or over
night. Try heading the head of the bolt a few times with a hammer to break
the rust. When you apply heat you must get it HOT. The only problem with
that is the bolt will soften and be more prone to twist off. Get a prick
punch and hit the corner of the bolt in the direction to loosen CCW. If all
else fails drill it out. If you use the extractors make sure you drill all
the way thru the bolt. The problem with the extractors is they are hardened
steel. Drill out the bolt as large as possible then use the extractor. Don't
force too much force........ don't break the extractor. I would also use
heat along with the extractor. If you break off the extractor you can't
drill it out. You would need to have access to the other side of the hole
and punch out the extractor. If the bolt doesn't come out just totally drill
it out and retap it.

"Keith" <sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:QXLUb.88936$nbnet.nb.ca... 
also 
bolt 
about 

Keith wrote:

"None of those fitted really well and I
didn't want to spend another $25 + tax for the metric set just to get a bolt
out - especially if it didn't work anyway"


Sounds like if you had spent a few bucks for the right tools to begin with
you wouldn't be in this fix now. If you plan on working on your own car BUY
THE RIGHT TOOLS.

And before you put the new bolt in...smear it with a anti-seize
compound! And the rest of them too! You or future owners will never have
to worry about those bolts ever again.


In article <%bOUb.37191$nyroc.rr.com>, trichar3
@rochester.nospam.rr.com says... 

Thanks for all of the suggestions...To put things in perspective:

Did you spray the bolt? Yes..I used the brake fluid after I tried Liquid
Wrench and Rust Check..gave it a good soak with all of it.

Kroil Oil is the best soak it a couple hours or overnight - Never heard of
it and have never seen it around these parts.

Try heading the head of the bolt a few times with a hammer to break
the rust. Did that...no luck.

When you apply heat you must get it HOT. - Ok....Will try because I
certainly didn't have it real hot.

And before you put the new bolt in...smear it with a anti-seize
compound! And the rest of them too! You or future owners will never have
to worry about those bolts ever again.... Will do this! As for the other
owner...Hmmmm...I like the old girl!

Sounds like if you had spent a few bucks for the right tools to begin with
you wouldn't be in this fix now. If you plan on working on your own car BUY
THE RIGHT TOOLS. Almost all the tools I have are Gray brand...some I've
had for about 30 years and they've yet to fail.
What brand do you consider the RIGHT tools??

I read this as meaning you still have a bolt head left -- it's just
rounded. Right? In that case, swallow just a BIT more pride and dig
out the trusty locking pliers, aka ViseGrips. Nice new ones, with sharp
jaws. I have a saying that when the vise-grips come out it's game over :O)
That being said I did bring them out to try, the problem was the support is
channel shape if you look at it end-on and there's not enough room to get
the grips on it!

Will try one more good soak - a few taps - heat - will file the edges of the
bolt flat (as much as I can get at),,try a socket again and if all that
fails will drill the little @#!@#@!!! out and try an extractor. First I
have to get a foot and a half of snow off the beastie. Now, if it would
only warm up from -10 I'd be right at it.

Keith

 
BUY 
had for about 30 years and they've yet to fail. 



In your first post you said; "None of those fitted really well and I
didn't want to spend another $25 + tax for the metric set just to get a bolt
out - especially if it didn't work anyway"

I take that to mean you were trying to use SAE tools on metric fastners. I
don't give a damn what brand tools you use.

Keith,

What does the bolt thread into? Is it going into a tapped hole in the
fender / body or somekind of J nut type fastner ?

Old Grandad used to heat bolts red hot then dose it with ice cold water,
then try unscrewing it - usually worked everytime according to uncle.
Especially on exhauts bolts.

Banging on the bolt from different directions may also bust break the
rust loose.

A Tony trick ( My dads expresison ) would be to use a box head wrench
and have a second person bang on the bolt with a hammer & a punch in the
direction of rotation of the bolt.

Good Luck.

=========
Harryface
=========

1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE, 3800 V6
_~_~_~_~276,100 miles_~_~_ ~_~_