How do you break rusted bolts on an old truck. I used penetrating spray, I used a hand grinder to get to the easy bolts. Drilled through some. But now the hard to get to bolts where I cannot get any leverage for any drill. The penetration does not work. Is there something that would eat away at the bolts or any other method. Can I avoid damaging under my front fenders of my 51 ford pickup.

What is the final resort in removing these hard to get to and remove bolts.

 

For those hard to reach bolts that I couldn't get at with the grinder I used my little dremel tool. They have little cut-off discs and it's easy to get into tight spaces/angles with it. I know it may seems kind of mickey-mouse, but it worked for me. I used it to take off rusted rivets from the rear leaf hangers.

Maybe someone will come up with something better....

Good luck.

 

<cr>
If you can get to them with a torch, heat them.

 

I tried with a propane hand torch. Would I need something stronger, or keep it there longer?

I'm using the dremel too. Thats how I got most of the bolts.

 

<cr>
A propane torch might help but the correct way to do it is to heat the nut red hot.

The idea is to get the nut to expand. By expanding the nut, the rust is broken between the nut and bolt. The faster you can heat the nut, without heating the bolt, the better it works.

 

someone at my job suggested taking it to the next level and use
a cutting torch with the much higher temperature than the propane.

 

This is just a little alternative to cutting the bolt. I use it when the bolt is too big/strong, when I do not want to damage the bolt (if it is odd or special) or the area around.

1. Heat the nut up, but not red hot or you can distort it and wreck the threads, this will not happen on most bolts but if it does you will be forced to cut it off.

2. Place a candle on the end to melt the wax. The "wick effect" will suck the melted wax into the threads and lube it up enough to remove easily.

This sounds a little wierd but trust me it does work.

JJ

 

That is the "Candle Trick" that is discussed in the Garage and Workshop forum.

The candle trick works wonders. It will work on bolts in blocks with the water jacket since you don't have to get everything that hot. Boiling water will melt wax.

 

I never saw it in the garage forum. So old school mechanic told me about it. Any way it works realy well.

JJ

 

That candle/wax idea sounds good...i'll try it next time I have a challenging bolt to remove--read "the next time I work on it". My truck seems to have an average of 1 in 3 being a b#!*$ to remove, with every job having at least one....

But then maybe I wouldn't love my truck as much?

dm

 

WOW!! you guys were right, I tried the wax and guess what!!!

They screwed right off. Some bolts broke on the way but replacable.

After all the spraying with penetrant and sawing like mad, I grabbed one of my wifes candles heated up the bolts applied the wax and PRESTO!!!!

 

Try using PB Blaster in yellow & white can let soak for 1 day thay should come loose.

Yo !!!