stuck strut bolt :( - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

A1337STI · 2010-03-25, 09:27 PM

So i'm taking off the struts from my STI to mail off to have them revalved. (they make noise, stick and have 92k miles on them)

Front right came off no problem, front left i couldn't get the lower bolt /nut to come off with my harbor freight 350 foot pound rattle gun.

picked up a breaker bar and i was able to get the nut off, but the bolt won't come out. i got the rears off with a lil bit of fighting but no real drama.

so the nut is off i can rotate the strut/knuckle but even if i beat on the end of the bolt with a hatchet (i don't have any real hammers) it won't come out, and i'de have to either discconect the brake line or take off the brake caliber to get the breaker bar on that side of the knuckle/strut (which may be my only option now .. i dunno)

I've yet to use PB Blaster on it, but i tried some WD40 .. maybe its the fact that it was snowing on me while i was doing all this

2" in about 90 minutes all while i was wrenching outside..

anywho any advice is greatly apreciated.

Kevin M · 2010-03-25, 09:32 PM

Take off the brake caliper, go to HF and get a $7 2.5 pound hammer, and knock that bitch out. Try rotating the bolt with the breaker bar first, in case it's got some corrosion in it.

A1337STI · 2010-03-25, 09:34 PM

Copy , ya the upper bolt had a lil bit of rust on it , and the nuts too ...

HF visit #2 in 2 days coming up!

cody · 2010-03-25, 09:38 PM

Don't tell me you haven't tried yelling at it.

bluestreak · 2010-03-26, 07:55 AM

Lots and lots of penetrating lube.... wait, was that what she said?

A1337STI · 2010-03-26, 08:17 AM

What does "she" recommend? PB Blaster? WD40? ??? brand X ?

Kevin M · 2010-03-26, 08:18 AM

PB Blaster is awesome. Keep plenty of it around.

k-dogg39 · 2010-03-26, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin M

PB Blaster is awesome. Keep plenty of it around.

Qft

Dean · 2010-03-26, 08:24 AM

Put the nut back on so the bolt is just below the surface to protect the threads and hit it with a BFH!

03wrxwagon · 2010-03-26, 08:30 AM

i gotta better idea heat it that bolt up for a few minutes and BAM your done ive used this technique before a few times

sybir · 2010-03-26, 08:53 AM

Right next to a sealed strut? Not so much.

sperry · 2010-03-26, 09:58 AM

I think Alex should just hit it with the hatchet some more.

Or perhaps upgrade his tools to the next echelon of technology and try one of these:

A1337STI · 2010-03-26, 10:12 AM

Since its my Bday and all could you deliver your Uber hammer?

sperry · 2010-03-26, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A1337STI

Since its my Bday and all could you deliver your Uber hammer?

Sorry, I sold it back when the bronze age started and I upgraded.

van · 2010-03-26, 11:38 AM

A hatchet is for smaller bolts, you're going to need a real axe for a bolt that size.
Or better yet a .22 shot will get it out easier.

van · 2010-03-26, 11:41 AM

Oh yeah, Happy Bday!

Nick Koan · 2010-03-26, 12:39 PM

Get yer self a Ford tool

sybir · 2010-03-26, 12:51 PM

In all seriousness, you've been running rally stages for how long, and you've never acquired an engineer's hammer at the very least? That is a staple of any on-site motorsports repair kit.

A1337STI · 2010-03-26, 01:02 PM

Yeppers, I keep amazing people at rallies, 1) lack of proper tools and know how, 2) rarely ever having any mechanical issues, 3) actually doing well.

i'm afraid if i learn too much i might throw that all out of whack

but yeah i need to grow my tool supply i've gotten by with borrowing / hatchets. Usually while at a rally a lot of the teams have a large supply of tools (and know how) so it really just hasn't been an issue.

A1337STI · 2010-03-26, 05:59 PM

Got it, it just needed some PB Blaster, some being yelled at, and my hatchet. i bought a 2lb "dead blow" hammer at HF but being a bit more rested and less frustrated i realized i could crank the steering wheel all the way to the left, and was able to get a clear strike at it ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean

Put the nut back on so the bolt is just below the surface to protect the threads and hit it with a BFH!

.... Uhm ...

Looks like this bolt from a random pic and pull knuckle will fit just fine ...

2010-03-25, 09:27 PM	#1
A1337STI EJ205 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,840 Car: Impreza and an Impreza Class: AS / CRS PerfStock "pedal on the right"	stuck strut bolt :( So i'm taking off the struts from my STI to mail off to have them revalved. (they make noise, stick and have 92k miles on them) Front right came off no problem, front left i couldn't get the lower bolt /nut to come off with my harbor freight 350 foot pound rattle gun. picked up a breaker bar and i was able to get the nut off, but the bolt won't come out. i got the rears off with a lil bit of fighting but no real drama. so the nut is off i can rotate the strut/knuckle but even if i beat on the end of the bolt with a hatchet (i don't have any real hammers) it won't come out, and i'de have to either discconect the brake line or take off the brake caliber to get the breaker bar on that side of the knuckle/strut (which may be my only option now .. i dunno) I've yet to use PB Blaster on it, but i tried some WD40 .. maybe its the fact that it was snowing on me while i was doing all this 2" in about 90 minutes all while i was wrenching outside.. anywho any advice is greatly apreciated. __________________ Fighting uphill battles, one bullet at a time!

2010-03-25, 09:34 PM	#3
A1337STI EJ205 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,840 Car: Impreza and an Impreza Class: AS / CRS PerfStock "pedal on the right"	Copy , ya the upper bolt had a lil bit of rust on it , and the nuts too ... HF visit #2 in 2 days coming up! __________________ Fighting uphill battles, one bullet at a time!

2010-03-25, 09:38 PM	#4
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Don't tell me you haven't tried yelling at it. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2010-03-26, 08:17 AM	#6
A1337STI EJ205 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,840 Car: Impreza and an Impreza Class: AS / CRS PerfStock "pedal on the right"	What does "she" recommend? PB Blaster? WD40? ??? brand X ? __________________ Fighting uphill battles, one bullet at a time!

2010-03-26, 08:18 AM	#7
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	PB Blaster is awesome. Keep plenty of it around. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2010-03-25, 09:32 PM	#2
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	Take off the brake caliper, go to HF and get a $7 2.5 pound hammer, and knock that bitch out. Try rotating the bolt with the breaker bar first, in case it's got some corrosion in it. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2010-03-26, 07:55 AM	#5
bluestreak EJ22 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NW Reno Posts: 111 Car: 2003 WRX Sedan - Blue	Lots and lots of penetrating lube.... wait, was that what she said?

2010-03-26, 08:24 AM	#9
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Put the nut back on so the bolt is just below the surface to protect the threads and hit it with a BFH! __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2010-03-26, 08:30 AM	#10
03wrxwagon EJ22 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 188	i gotta better idea heat it that bolt up for a few minutes and BAM your done ive used this technique before a few times

2010-03-26, 08:53 AM	#11
sybir The Don Real Name: Aaron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sacramento Posts: 3,097 Car: '97 Legacy / '05 FXT Class: low	Right next to a sealed strut? Not so much. __________________ Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic.

2010-03-26, 09:58 AM	#12
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	I think Alex should just hit it with the hatchet some more. Or perhaps upgrade his tools to the next echelon of technology and try one of these: __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2010-03-26, 10:12 AM	#13
A1337STI EJ205 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,840 Car: Impreza and an Impreza Class: AS / CRS PerfStock "pedal on the right"	Since its my Bday and all could you deliver your Uber hammer? __________________ Fighting uphill battles, one bullet at a time!

2010-03-26, 11:38 AM	#15
van SECCS Brewmeister Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: on the edge of a marsh Posts: 1,451	A hatchet is for smaller bolts, you're going to need a real axe for a bolt that size. Or better yet a .22 shot will get it out easier.

2010-03-26, 11:41 AM	#16
van SECCS Brewmeister Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: on the edge of a marsh Posts: 1,451	Oh yeah, Happy Bday!

2010-03-26, 12:39 PM	#17
Nick Koan JDM Cowboy Real Name: Nick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 8,642 Car: 2015 Mazda 3	Get yer self a Ford tool __________________ While a standard engine is powered by a belt connected to the crankshaft, a turbo engine runs on its own exhaust steam, making it more energy efficient. -- CNN

2010-03-26, 12:51 PM	#18
sybir The Don Real Name: Aaron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sacramento Posts: 3,097 Car: '97 Legacy / '05 FXT Class: low	In all seriousness, you've been running rally stages for how long, and you've never acquired an engineer's hammer at the very least? That is a staple of any on-site motorsports repair kit. __________________ Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic.

2010-03-26, 01:02 PM	#19
A1337STI EJ205 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,840 Car: Impreza and an Impreza Class: AS / CRS PerfStock "pedal on the right"	Yeppers, I keep amazing people at rallies, 1) lack of proper tools and know how, 2) rarely ever having any mechanical issues, 3) actually doing well. i'm afraid if i learn too much i might throw that all out of whack but yeah i need to grow my tool supply i've gotten by with borrowing / hatchets. Usually while at a rally a lot of the teams have a large supply of tools (and know how) so it really just hasn't been an issue. __________________ Fighting uphill battles, one bullet at a time!

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