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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Seems Impossible To Loosen Bolts (replacing Tob)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeremy Batchelor
  • Start date Start date Mar 11, 2014

Jeremy Batchelor

New Member
Jan 26, 2014
18
0
2
Haslet, TX
Mar 11, 2014
#1
  • Mar 11, 2014
  • #1
The throw out bearing finally went out in my '03 Mach 1. I'm in the process of pulling off the mid-pipe and trans crossbar. I tried the trans crossbar first and the bolts absolutely will not budge. I applied WD-40 and used a cheater bar. The socket extension I was using actually bent. I moved on to the forward exhaust bolts. Again, I sprayed WD-40 and used a cheater bar. The Husky socket cracked. I'm hoping they're simply stubborn bolts, but here is my concern...

I bought the car from a dealer, but the previous owner did not take care of it. I had to get the engine rebuilt after having it a few months to start with. (125k miles) When I started with today's project, I noticed the driveshaft bolts weren't even finger tight. The list goes on. My point in mentioning this is since the engine was recently pulled for the rebuild, these bolts were loosened as recently as 2 months ago.

I'm wondering if someone could have used some type of thread lock liquid, or maybe impacted the hell out of these bolts. I'm trying to avoid renting an impact wrench. I'm not sure I could reach the exhaust bolts with it if I did. I'm going to the store now to get some liquid wrench. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
D

Deleted member 38176

Mar 11, 2014
#2
  • Mar 11, 2014
  • #2
PB Blaster
 

Jeremy Batchelor

New Member
Jan 26, 2014
18
0
2
Haslet, TX
Mar 11, 2014
#3
  • Mar 11, 2014
  • #3
Nightfire said:
PB Blaster
Click to expand...

It's funny you mentioned that. I was at Wal-mart trying to decide between PB Blaster and Liquid Wrench when I got the reply notification. Thanks! I'm giving it a shot when I get back to it.
 

Mattstang04

15 Year Member
Sep 15, 2006
1,152
144
104
St. Louis, MO
Mar 11, 2014
#4
  • Mar 11, 2014
  • #4
Somebody probably impacted those too tight. Hopefully they didn't cross thread them. If the PB isn't getting the job done, heat the area around the bolts with a propane torch. Be careful of surrounding aluminum parts that could warp under heat and watch out for wires or hoses that could burn or melt.

I've found driveshaft bolts finger tight on my friends fox GT. I think he forgot to use thread locker on the bolts, the prior time he put it in.
 
K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?
10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
4,749
95
134
Mar 11, 2014
#5
  • Mar 11, 2014
  • #5
allow time for pb blaster to work, up to a few days even...
 

Jeremy Batchelor

New Member
Jan 26, 2014
18
0
2
Haslet, TX
Mar 11, 2014
#6
  • Mar 11, 2014
  • #6
PB Blaster is awesome! Most of the bolts came off with a cheater bar pretty quick after one soak. The passenger side exhaust bolts are still being stubborn, but I'll let them soak a bit. Thanks for the help!
 
D

Deleted member 38176

Mar 12, 2014
#7
  • Mar 12, 2014
  • #7
Im glad it helped. I had some header bolts that would have required a small explosive device to get them off. A little PB overnight and they came out lubed dildo the next day.
 

4cammer72

Likes to drop it and leave it crusty lookin
Mar 28, 2007
90
6
9
west columbia south carolina
Mar 13, 2014
#8
  • Mar 13, 2014
  • #8
KROIL is even better than pb blaster if you can find it..
 

Jeremy Batchelor

New Member
Jan 26, 2014
18
0
2
Haslet, TX
Mar 14, 2014
#9
  • Mar 14, 2014
  • #9
So I'm still stuck on this last exhaust nut. I've used BP blaster, Kroil, and even some other brand I can't remember. I even tried heating it. I bought an impact wrench and enough extensions/swivels to get the perfect hold on the nut. The impact wench won't even budge it. It's rated at 250lbs of tq. This nut must be cross threaded.

Since the nut is on a stud, I'm at the point where I want to cut off the nut. My dremel tool won't fit because of the starter. I'm heading to home depot now to find something to cut this damn thing off. Any last minute suggestions before I do this? Or any suggestions on the easiest way to cut it off?
 
K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?
10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
4,749
95
134
Mar 14, 2014
#10
  • Mar 14, 2014
  • #10
nut splitter if you can find a good one a cheap one will just piss you off
 

sethahoward

Member
Dec 21, 2011
34
4
19
Somerset Pa
Mar 14, 2014
#11
  • Mar 14, 2014
  • #11
Heat the nut red hot. Don't use the impact, you lose to much torque when using all those extensions and swivels, just use a breaker bar or ratchet, and try to minimize the use of swivels and extensions. Get the nut glowing. I use a MAP gas torch, it works better than propane.
 
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