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How did you get your drive shaft bolts off?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Loco5.0
  • Start date Start date May 17, 2005
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Loco5.0

5 Year Member
Apr 2, 2005
394
6
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PA
May 17, 2005
#1
  • May 17, 2005
  • #1
Anyone know what kind of f'n heads these bolts have? I tried a 10 pt socket w/no luck. I am going to try a 12 pt socket next & if that does not work then I dunno wtf to do. :damnit:
 
R

Rock777

Member
Aug 22, 2004
195
1
16
Troy, IL
May 17, 2005
#2
  • May 17, 2005
  • #2
Loco5.0 said:
Anyone know what kind of f'n heads these bolts have? I tried a 10 pt socket w/no luck. I am going to try a 12 pt socket next & if that does not work then I dunno wtf to do. :damnit:
Click to expand...

Definitely use a 12pt socket. I had absolutely no luck until I heated them up with a torch. Then I heated each one up for like 15-20 seconds and they cam right out. Other people have had luck using a pipe over the wrench/ratchet for more leverage, but all I did was broke sockets and wrenches doing it that way.
 
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slytherin

New Member
Apr 5, 2004
702
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0
northeast ohio
May 17, 2005
#3
  • May 17, 2005
  • #3
Damn I dont remember what they are or how I got mine off. I'll have to see if I still have em at home(I save old nuts and bolts comes in handy).
 

mricci

Member
Aug 17, 2003
301
0
17
Massachusetts
May 17, 2005
#4
  • May 17, 2005
  • #4
mine were hard until i heated them up, after that they came off really really easy.
 
S

seijirou

Founding Member
Aug 15, 2002
2,417
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DFW
May 17, 2005
#5
  • May 17, 2005
  • #5
It is 12 point, a box end wrench and a pipe works well. Don't use sockets and ratchets.
 

Loco5.0

5 Year Member
Apr 2, 2005
394
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May 17, 2005
#6
  • May 17, 2005
  • #6
I can't really get any leverage w/a pipe laying under the car. All I have is sockets & wrenches. =/ I can heat them w/my heat gun, but don't have a torch.

While we're on the subject of getting bolts off, I can't get my trans mount bolts to break loose either. Again, no leverage is the problem.
 

Jo_885o

New Member
Jul 17, 2003
422
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0
Clint. Twp, Michigan
May 17, 2005
#7
  • May 17, 2005
  • #7
pb blaster and a torch from meijers. only couple bucks.
 
S

seijirou

Founding Member
Aug 15, 2002
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May 17, 2005
#8
  • May 17, 2005
  • #8
This is how I do it on the ground, you have to get up and down alot, but it works.

Put the transmission in neutral, parking brake off, rear tires off the ground on Jackstands. Turn the driveshaft untill the bolts are in an X pattern, as opposed to a + pattern.
Set the parking brake.
Put your 12mm 12 point box end wrench on the lower driver's side driveshaft bolt, and bring in your jack. Position the jack under the end wrench and start cranking/pumping. This will use the weight of the car to turn the wrench counterclockwise and break the bolt free. once it's broken free, release the jack, crawl out and release the parking brake. Get back under the car, and turn the driveshaft 1/4 turn, set the parking brake again, and repeat.
 

HardmanGT

Founding Member
Oct 5, 2001
500
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17
Thomaston, CT
May 17, 2005
#9
  • May 17, 2005
  • #9
I do the X thing so I have access to 2 bolts at a time and set the brake and engage 1st gear. I use a 12mm 12 point box end on the bolt and take a bigger wrench to the 12mm wrench.

Interlock the box end of the larger (longer) wrench into the open end of the 12mm. You are making a longer wrench (more levreage) out of this setup. I can usually get them off that way. Worst case scenario is to push on the wrenches with my foot while laying under the car. Don't kick, just push. That'll break 'em free.

Don't forget to clean the threads and use loctite on the bolts when you install them. Don't wan those suckers flying out
 

Loco5.0

5 Year Member
Apr 2, 2005
394
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May 17, 2005
#10
  • May 17, 2005
  • #10
HardmanGT said:
Don't forget to clean the threads and use loctite on the bolts when you install them. Don't wan those suckers flying out
Click to expand...
Which color should I use?
 

dcarlson

Member
Apr 8, 2005
128
3
19
Long Island, NY
May 17, 2005
#11
  • May 17, 2005
  • #11
HardmanGT said:
I do the X thing so I have access to 2 bolts at a time and set the brake and engage 1st gear. I use a 12mm 12 point box end on the bolt and take a bigger wrench to the 12mm wrench.

Interlock the box end of the larger (longer) wrench into the open end of the 12mm. You are making a longer wrench (more levreage) out of this setup. I can usually get them off that way. Worst case scenario is to push on the wrenches with my foot while laying under the car. Don't kick, just push. That'll break 'em free.

Don't forget to clean the threads and use loctite on the bolts when you install them. Don't wan those suckers flying out
Click to expand...
What he said. That is how I do it.

Torque spec is over hundred ft/lbs for those bolts. Use blue loctite and tighten them TIGHT. Torqued properly, blue is all you need. But if you cant get good leverage to tighten them really tight you might want to use red loctite.
 

88_GT_5_oh

Sportin' a turbo 5.0 in Canadistan
Jul 4, 2004
1
0
1
WPG/MB/CA
May 17, 2005
#12
  • May 17, 2005
  • #12
heat is how i got mine off..... and those bolts on the tranny may require the tranny coming out like i did with mine. we ended up striping it, so i had to weld a larger nut onto it, then heat it with a oxy/acl torch then hit it with a 500 ftlb impact gun and it still took all of the power on the impact gun to get it out, so ya it wasn't fun and i ended up taking the threads in thee tranny with the bolt so i had to re-tap the hole. i still have that bolt as a reminder of how long one bolt can take to get out. hopefully yours isn't like this but i would suggest if you don't have a torch, go buy one cause its gonna make life alot easier for this job.
 

70lightning

New Member
Mar 30, 2005
205
0
0
in the basement makin stuff
May 17, 2005
#13
  • May 17, 2005
  • #13
HardmanGT said:
I do the X thing so I have access to 2 bolts at a time and set the brake and engage 1st gear. I use a 12mm 12 point box end on the bolt and take a bigger wrench to the 12mm wrench.

Interlock the box end of the larger (longer) wrench into the open end of the 12mm. You are making a longer wrench (more levreage) out of this setup. I can usually get them off that way. Worst case scenario is to push on the wrenches with my foot while laying under the car. Don't kick, just push. That'll break 'em free.

Don't forget to clean the threads and use loctite on the bolts when you install them. Don't wan those suckers flying out
Click to expand...
I use my foot for things like drive shaft bolts and tranny mounts.
 
M

mr.b

Founding Member
Aug 30, 2002
214
0
0
May 17, 2005
#14
  • May 17, 2005
  • #14
just took my driveshaft out last night. 12point, 12mm half inch drive on the old impact wrench and they fell out like butter!
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,285
17,980
224
Massachusetts
May 17, 2005
#15
  • May 17, 2005
  • #15
HardmanGT said:
Interlock the box end of the larger (longer) wrench into the open end of the 12mm. You are making a longer wrench (more levreage) out of this setup. I can usually get them off that way. Worst case scenario is to push on the wrenches with my foot while laying under the car. Don't kick, just push. That'll break 'em free.
Click to expand...

That's a good trick. I have used that dozens of times and it always impresses someone when i do it!

Another trick is to put the box end of a wrench on the bolt you are trying to break and use another heavy wrench to hit the end of the wrench with quick fast blows. It's the same idea as an impact gun. Quick sudden blows can sometimes break a bolt loose better. I have used this method tons of times on stubborn bolts and it works. It usually saves me from having to drag out a pipe...whcih can also snap bolts too.
 
I

Idwitheld-1`

New Member
Nov 30, 2003
335
0
0
Portland Oregon
May 17, 2005
#16
  • May 17, 2005
  • #16
Loco5.0 said:
Anyone know what kind of f'n heads these bolts have? I tried a 10 pt socket w/no luck. I am going to try a 12 pt socket next & if that does not work then I dunno wtf to do. :damnit:
Click to expand...


What is a 10pt socket ? And where can I get some.....I need more tools damnit!!!
 
S

seijirou

Founding Member
Aug 15, 2002
2,417
4
48
DFW
May 17, 2005
#17
  • May 17, 2005
  • #17
It's all the fingers from both of yours hands
Gripping as tightly as possible.
 

04sleeper

Founding Member
Jun 22, 2002
2,674
14
89
Dallas, TX
May 17, 2005
#18
  • May 17, 2005
  • #18
HardmanGT said:
push on the wrenches with my foot while laying under the car. Don't kick, just push. That'll break 'em free.

Don't forget to clean the threads and use loctite on the bolts when you install them. Don't wan those suckers flying out
Click to expand...


Thats what I have always done.

BTW. I have some extra driveshaft bolts if someone needs some.
 

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
Mill Creek, WA
May 17, 2005
#19
  • May 17, 2005
  • #19
I've always found heat to be the best with these -- it's the Loctite that helps keeps them in there so well.

Put a small propane torch on the bolt for a minute and then it will come right out with minimal effort usually.

When you start using jacks and pipes and whatever else is when you will break the bolt.
 
B

BaXTeR3221

Member
Jan 12, 2004
917
0
16
Orange County, NY
May 17, 2005
#20
  • May 17, 2005
  • #20
I use the 'foot method' just like the other guys, always seems to do the trick.
 
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