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tech
Removing
Seized Nuts and Bolts
This article
attempts to allow you to arm yourself with knowledge about
removing stubborn fasteners. The items are listed from
what we believe is a first to last resort. Happy
wrenching, or in this case, hopeful wrenching.
Penetrating
Fluid
This stuff is usually the best start on removing a
stubborn nut or bolt. It is very simple to use.
Spray it on, wait a while and try to break the problem
loose. Usually gently rocking the nut or bolt is more
effective than the strong arm approach. If a fastener
is being a problem try a second application 24 hours later
to see if it makes a difference. Our favorite kind on
fluid is
PB Blaster
Penetrating Catalyst but there are several
others...Liquid Wrench and WD40 to name a few.
PB Blaster
Nut Splitters
These handy tools can cut a nut off from a bolt. A
small tool is fitted around the nut and using a wrench a
blade is forced into the side of the nut usually causing the
nut to break. Sometimes it can even do so without destroying
the bolt.
Typical Nut Splitter
See more about
Nut Splitters in the
Jeeper's Garage
Section
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Extractors
A bolt or screw extractor can be useful for removing a
broken bolt or a bolt with a destroyed head.
Extractors are used by drilling a properly sized hole in the
stuck bolt and inserting the extractor. The extractor
is reverse threaded so by loosening the extractor the
tighter it tries to threat into the stuck bolt. Be
careful not to exert too much force on the extractor.
A broken extractor is near impossible to drill out.
Extractor
See more about
Extractors in the
Jeeper's
Garage Section |
Heat - aka
the "Gas Wrench"
Using heat usually comes as a last resort. Heating
the bolt breaks the bond and usually allows for easy
extraction. BE CAREFUL! Using a torch under or
around your vehicle can be dangerous. Make sure you
are aware of the surrounding area. An acetylene torch
usually works the best. High heat that can quickly
heat the stuck bolt will give the best results and will
avoid heating the surrounding area.
Cutting
Occasionally a bolt just refuses to come out. If
you are lucky you can cut off the bolt and let the other
side fall out. It usually seems that this down and
dirty method is inappropriate most of the time.
Obviously you can't cut a bolt that threads into something
that can't be removed, like a cross member bolt.
Although on some occasions you can decide to cut off a bolt
head to allow a piece to come apart and allow access to the
shaft of the bolt. Usually in this situation a vice
grip is clamped onto the bolt and heat may be applied.
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