Stubborn bolts?? Help!!

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Blackwater

Blackwater

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jun 16, 2009
Threads
42
Messages
582
Location
NW Arkansas
So Today I went out to remove my factory Tow Hitch in prep for a future new rear bumper/tire carrier. Its attached with three 19 mm bolts to the frame on each side.

No Luck, I have broken two 3/8 Craftsman socket wrenches, and a Craftsman 1/2 to 3/8 socket adapter.

WTH?? I have used PB blaster, and hit the heck out of those bolts trying to break them free.

Any advice?? Do I need to get out a torch and heat them up? I have dealt with several tricky bolts over the years but nothing like this.

I feel like a woman even posting this thread but ****, HELP LOL..
 
Wow - those are on there. You probably need a 1/2-inch drive breaker bar and socket.
 
Trunk Monkey said:
Don't hit them with PB 5 minutes before and expect it to work. I've had to soak them for a week sometimes.
Click to expand...

Funny you say that.... when doing the header installs we found that PB worked better on the nuts if we only let them soak 5 or LESS minutes. Not suggesting that in this case :D
 
Yea, thats the plan for right now. Im going to soak them a few more times until I can get to sears on Wednesday. (On shift all day tomorrow)

Will try the 1/2 breaker with a socket again. I have been less than impressed with impact's over the years. On truely tight bolts the impacts tend to only work to a certain point. Im a big enough dude I should be able to get them w/ a breaker LOL. That is if the tools dont break. :)

We will see
 
I ran into some tight bolts on the other side of the frame this weekend installing a ARB front. The four bolts holding the OEM recovery brackets were damn tight and my Dewalt 18v 1/2" impact would not even budge them (this thing zips off tight lug nuts no issue). 1/2" Craftsman socket wrench in conjunction with a 36" breaker bar (old motorcycle fork tube) and they spun right off.

So, moral of the story, you just need more leverage! Get a good socket wrench and breaker bar and they will come loose.
 
RobRed said:
The impact sockets tend to take more abuse than the chrome ones. You are trying to take out a bolt torqued to 150ft-lbs.
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Ahh, Nice call Rob. I didnt even think about that. I will pick up a 19mm Impact socket when I replace my wrenches.

Hopefully that and a few days of PB will do the trick :lol:
 
Impact sockets are a waste of money for the average joe. In my many years as a Shadetree Mechanic I've yet to break one of the standard chrome Craftsman sockets in either 3/8" or 1/2". And if that day ever comes, they replace them free of charge.

Just get the breaker bar, or if you have a old piece of iron pipe laying around or the handle from a Hi-Lift you are already in business.
 
Anthony.L said:
I ran into some tight bolts on the other side of the frame this weekend installing a ARB front. The four bolts holding the OEM recovery brackets were **** tight and my Dewalt 18v 1/2" impact would not even budge them (this thing zips off tight lug nuts no issue). 1/2" Craftsman socket wrench in conjunction with a 36" breaker bar (old motorcycle fork tube) and they spun right off.

So, moral of the story, you just need more leverage! Get a good socket wrench and breaker bar and they will come loose.
Click to expand...


I think your absolutely right. I was using 1/2 and 3/8 scoket wrenches. I had plently of leverage with the handle of my heavy duty floor jack, the wrenches were just giving out.

19MM Impact socket w/ a 1/2 breaker bar hopefully will do it.

BTW, saw your post in the pics thread of the new ARB. I am in love man. Looks absolutely great!! :beer:
 
once you break one free, keep it in place until you break the others free. The nuts are welded in the frame and tend to break free back there or shift just enough to not be able to use them again. If that happens you made need to open up the frame.
 
Anthony.L said:
I ran into some tight bolts on the other side of the frame this weekend installing a ARB front. The four bolts holding the OEM recovery brackets were damn tight and my Dewalt 18v 1/2" impact would not even budge them (this thing zips off tight lug nuts no issue). 1/2" Craftsman socket wrench in conjunction with a 36" breaker bar (old motorcycle fork tube) and they spun right off.

So, moral of the story, you just need more leverage! Get a good socket wrench and breaker bar and they will come loose.
Click to expand...

Dewalt Battery impact = 145 ft-lbs full power/full charge

Ingersol Rand 1/2" air = (up to) 560 ft-lbs every pull of the trigger
 
My breaker bar is the handle off my hi-lift. Had to use it last weekend to get the bolts in the frame holding the factory hook. I finally got the frb 2 on after 3 nights of PB and the hi lift bar.
 
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