Effin Ponderous Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 Let me start off by saying that there was a time I was considered a decent mechanic. I worked on construction equipment for years (gas, elec, hydraulic) and started building cars in my late teens. I had put away my tools for a number of years but started modding again with my last car. OK, so you all understand...I can handle a wrench pretty well, my problem has been time and a decent facility to work in. I had my Cusco's done in a couple of hours without instruction, and the majority of time was setting up. I started on my Tein H-Techs today and had to give it up after a few hours. I got the fronts done pretty easily, but just cannot get the lower bolts free on the rears. I've read all the posts warning me, I used my PB Blaster and let it soak for a couple of hours before even trying to get them off. The car has only been out of the showrrom for 3 months even though it's an 05'. There is no signs of rust, and I am using an air impact wrench. WTF am I missing here? I have even tried putting a breaker bar on it, jacking up the bar with the weight of the car. I tried changing the angle of the breaker bar and lowering the car down on it. Both tries didn't even budge it. These aren't left hand thread are they? I even tried to read them and they seem like right hand thread? Anyone have any ideas, other than a heavier impact wrench? Without a lift, it's impossible to get any real leverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilT Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 Use a higher torque impact wrench. I had the same problem as you did, but on the fronts, I ended up going to a garage and having them just loosen everything off, coat with anti seize and replace. Then I changed them out when I got home. Double Award Winning Legacy GT Wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Effin Ponderous Posted August 28, 2006 Author Share Posted August 28, 2006 my local guy that I normally use wants $225 to swap out the rears and won't just cack the nuts loose... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilT Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 my local guy that I normally use wants $225 to swap out the rears and won't just cack the nuts loose... I had my local Subaru dealer loosen mine, they were cool with it, and only charged me for the 30 mins it took. Double Award Winning Legacy GT Wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasopoliS Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 righty tighty, lefty loosie j/k dont know what to tell you. my standard impact worked. did you try swearing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Effin Ponderous Posted August 28, 2006 Author Share Posted August 28, 2006 righty tighty, lefty loosie j/k dont know what to tell you. my standard impact worked. did you try swearing? I did try swearing...several times in 12 different languages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nsaglibene Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 Me and my friend did it by all by hand... I think you guys are just too old:lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 why dont you just drive by and i crack it open for ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SactoPete Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 You could try a torch on the nut, that often breaks rust... careful though, PB blaster is flammable so be ready to smother the flame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Effin Ponderous Posted August 28, 2006 Author Share Posted August 28, 2006 Me and my friend did it by all by hand... I think you guys are just too old:lol: You may be right:lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paradiso Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Older means smarter (hey, I have to have some consolation). Leverage is king. Get a 4' piece of black pipe that will fit over the breaker bar. That's how I got mine off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest *Jedimaster* Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 I don't know what's involved with breaking them loose on our cars, but in a pinch I've set a wrench handle against a hydraulic jack and broken nuts loose that way. IBthat'stheworstideaever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccorry Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Search for my thread... it took a 4 ft breaker bar and a 240 lb guy bouncing on it till they cracked loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zildjiank Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 I used a jack... Easy as pie... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-gorithm Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 sgt just used a wrench and angled it against the ground on the bolt end. He then used a breaker bar on the nut end. You really need to jack the car high to get some decent work on it. See if you know someone with a lift. It will allow you better area to work in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhsa Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 i just broke the rear strut bolts for the first time this past weekend. as others have mentioned, i used my floor jack with the breaker bar and both sides came off with little drama. i was actually surprised it was so easy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 I had the muffler shop at the end of the street loosen them for me before I got started. $10 well spent, IMHO. Discretion is the better part of valor, and all that. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. In other words: SEARCH before you post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinlsb Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Put motor oil into the inlet of the impact wrench. "Belief does not make truth. Evidence makes truth. And belief does not make evidence." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Effin Ponderous Posted August 29, 2006 Author Share Posted August 29, 2006 Thank you to all, for the ideas. Not only did I use a jack on the breaker bar to break the bolt...I lifted the car off of the jack stands trying. So then I figured, I'd go the other way and reverse the breaker bar...lower the car on the bar. Even the weight of the car coming down did not break the nuts. So I drove home last night with only the fronts installed. It sure made a heck of a difference in the handling with only the fronts! Robinlsb - I may try your idea today...I assume the concept is similar to the old "put 90 weight oil in the low compression engine" trick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paradiso Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Dude, really, leverage. With a "4' breaker bar" you can just lean your body weight on it and the bolt will break free. Its cheap, its easy and it'll come in handy with other super tight bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhsa Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 how do you fit a 4' breaker bar in the small space in the wheel well without it being on a lift? i could barely fit a an 18" breaker bar in that space. an extension wouldn't work because the brake rotor/cover is in the way and i couldn't get enough of the socket on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Effin Ponderous Posted August 29, 2006 Author Share Posted August 29, 2006 That's exactly the problem...no lift. If a 2' breaker bar with the weight of a car on it and me hitting the back side of the bolt with an impact wrench isn't going to do it, I am realy not sure how to proceed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SactoPete Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Seriously, this is reminding me of the front sway bar bracket on my '65 Barracuda. You think three months is bad? Try forty years! After a week of PB blaster, breaker bars, a cracked socket (!), and a visit to the emergency room (I still have the effing scar), I used a torch to get it cherry-hot followed by dry ice on the bolt head only and the f*&cker cracked loose for me. I laid the offending nut on the driveway and talked trash to it for about ten minutes (my neighbors must've really wondered why I was looking at the ground screaming, "that's right, you bitch, you think you got me? Huh? Well, F&*K YOU, where are you now? You are on the F&*King driveway, that's right!"). That's about the time I noticed the horrifying burn on my knuckle, btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msb175 Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 (my neighbors must've really wondered why I was looking at the ground screaming, "that's right, you bitch, you think you got me? Huh? Well, F&*K YOU, where are you now? You are on the F&*King driveway, that's right!"). That's about the time I noticed the horrifying burn on my knuckle, btw. but seriously, i'm gonna do this soon enough...if i have problems, the advice given here should help....hopefully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilT Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Put motor oil into the inlet of the impact wrench. Putting oil into a compressed air system is a bad idea, can easily lead to an explosion. Double Award Winning Legacy GT Wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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