Tips for getting bolts loose?

[02RangerXLT]

Howdy,

What is everyone using to get bolts to break loose? I'm trying my hardest to get the two vertical bolts to break loose but I'm finding it impossible with the lack of room there is between the radiator, the hoses, and the tow hooks. I can get the horizontal bolts off fine because there's plenty of space to move the ratchet and breaker bar. I've sprayed everything heavily with WD-40.

1) Cutting them off is not an option.
2) Nor is removing the bumper.
3) I still want to be able to put these back on if I ever decide to sell the pickup.

Thanks

 

[brplante]

when i was un-bolting the front bumper on my friends '84 ranger we used a swivel end breaker bar (i dont know the correct terminology) and it worked pretty good... just be super careful not to let the bolts round the square holes on the bumper...

 

[02RangerXLT]

when i was un-bolting the front bumper on my friends '84 ranger we used a swivel end breaker bar (i dont know the correct terminology) and it worked pretty good... just be super careful not to let the bolts round the square holes on the bumper...

Do you have a picture of what you're talking about (the tool)?

Would heating it up a bit with a torch work?

 

[Jay FX4]

PB Blaster....

and FIRE!

 

[97RangerXLT]

PB Blaster on the bolts the day before you remove them.

get the longest breaker bar you can fit in the area and still move it, even if it is only to move it just 1/16th of a turn(this is to break it loose) once you have done that, you can go to a shorter ratchet that can turn more to remove it.

make sure you have a GOOD quality and good fitting six point socket on the bolt. that will allow the minimal slop on the bolt. this goes for the breaker bar too. the tighter the clearance between all surfaces will allow more bolt turn in a tight space. it will also not chew up the head of the bolt so you can reuse it later.

if you can safely do it without melting or damaging any other part of the truck, heating the bolt with a torch might help you out.

Above all, patience.

AJ

 

[Destroyer000]

heat for sure.. the heat wrench gets EVERYTHING thing unstuck.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Damn... patience... one quality I don't possess lol.

I'm gonna let it soak over night, and spray it again before I give it a go again in the morning. If I still can't get it to move with the BB, I'll see if I can use the torch a little bit to heat it up.

Thanks!

Oh... and I have an air powered ratchet, is it worth a try?

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Oh... and I have an air powered ratchet, is it worth a try?

Negative. Air ratchets don't have the torque required for breaking things loose. However, if you can swing getting an impact in there(probably with a few extensions and a u-joint) then you'd probably stand a good chance. At the shop I used to work at, they'd hold the trigger while switching between forward and reverse. That method seemed to work better than any other so long as you're careful.

 

[Dube_77]

Ive heard that melted bees wax works pretty well but idk where u would find any lol

 

[brplante]

ugh that sucks I used stainless bolts instead of bumper bolts on my truck.

we rounded all the sqaure holes before we realised what was up, ended up having to cut them with bolt cutters, im just glad we put on a custom bumper

 

[brplante]

Do you have a picture of what you're talking about (the tool)?

Would heating it up a bit with a torch work?

1. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...e-breaker-bar/path/ratchets-torque-wrenches-2

2. yezzir

 

[02RangerXLT]

1. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...e-breaker-bar/path/ratchets-torque-wrenches-2

2. yezzir

Ah, thanks! Yeah, the breaker bar barely fits on one side of the tow hooks... it bumps into some of the hoses by the radiator...

Idk about that beeswax dube, kinda cold for bees to be out lol

Thanks

 

[adsm08]

BG Inforce (where available) is far better than any other spray lube I have ever used. It's hard to come by unless you are buying it direct from BG and by the pallet.

PB is the next best thing I've used, but one guy on here said he used a combo of acetone and ATF that worked really nicely.

As for stubborn bolts. I use this:

and it's worth every last cent I paid for it and then some.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Well... Problem is, I can't fit an air wrench under there, only an air ratchet will fit.

 

[pjtoledo]

1. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...e-breaker-bar/path/ratchets-torque-wrenches-2

2. yezzir

damn, they have some nasty taxes across the pond!


spray stuff that freezes the bolt may work, it's supposed to cool it so much it shrinks and cracks the rust bond. won't set your truck on fire either.