Tried to Remove Strut Bolts With Socket Wrench

*VQuick* · 06-20-2004, 10:56 PM

Used a long breaker bar and PB Blaster, but boy were those mothers rusted on there. Luckily the two sockets are Craftsman so I'll get some free replacements.

Tomorrow I'm going to use air tools (didn't have the compressor today)....

*dmontzsta* · 06-20-2004, 11:00 PM

dude, in all my days and years of working on cars I have never had tools fail like that. ESPECIALLY Craftsman, did you have them on straight when using them? something went wrong, that should not have happened. At any rate, take them back to Sears and get new ones at no charge with no receipt.

*VQuick* · 06-20-2004, 11:16 PM

Yes, on straight and yes, I was surprised that I broke them. I was using a breaker bar about 2.5 feet long, and that's quite a bit of force. I wasn't going the wrong way or anything because I got one bolt loose before breaking the extension and then two sockets.

BTW the extension doesn't say Craftsman so I assume it's generic/cheapo.

Keep in mind you live in SoCal and may not be familiar with cars with 5+ years of RUST. Rust is amazingly good at fusing metal parts together.

RobUsaf81 · 06-20-2004, 11:24 PM

Wow, thats some mean rust. Would have expected the bolts to go first.
You ever get the bolts off?

*VQuick* · 06-20-2004, 11:35 PM

Nope, will be using an impact wrench tomorrow.

The bolts are fine by all appearances.

**Nealoc187** · 06-21-2004, 01:53 AM

I broke 2 sockets and a 3/8" breaker bar doing my front strut bolts as well. Craftsman replaced them though as promised.

MaximaPolak · 06-21-2004, 08:28 AM

You sure nissan didn't weld your bolts in?

*MAXimumHP* · 06-21-2004, 11:08 AM

I've seen that before too. If you use impact sockets and extensions they are much stronger. Never had a 1/2" breaker bar bust on me though, even with two feet of pipe off the end. I have seen them break though where the socket attaches a couple times.

95stillenmax · 06-21-2004, 12:13 PM

dang I have never broken a craftsman socet the only ones I have broken are like some cheap made in china ones

SkoorbMax · 06-21-2004, 12:30 PM

I will be buying craftsmen in the future, but trying to take a wheel of after those dicks at the tire stores crank them on with a million-lb of torque impact tool I've broken now two wheel studs and also an extention (it was a walmart cheapy one), all three times using my breaker bar.

I dunno about you guys but I feel manly when I am strong enough to break a tool and I know that the tool failed me, and not the other way around

Zero Deuce SE · 06-21-2004, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masaccio

Used a long breaker bar and PB Blaster, but boy were those mothers rusted on there. Luckily the two sockets are Craftsman so I'll get some free replacements.

Tomorrow I'm going to use air tools (didn't have the compressor today)....

Were you using a 3/8" drive or 1/2"? I can't see breaking 1/2" drive on strut nuts.

*VQuick* · 06-21-2004, 02:59 PM

Ya, 3/8" drive. Don't have 1/2" drive in a 17mm socket. Impact will do the trick.

SkoorbMax, I hear you. I thought the bolt was finally loosening with a satisfying little jerk, but then I saw I'd wrecked the socket and thought, damn, I'm strong!

Zero Deuce SE · 06-21-2004, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masaccio

Ya, 3/8" drive. Don't have 1/2" drive in a 17mm socket. Impact will do the trick.

SkoorbMax, I hear you. I thought the bolt was finally loosening with a satisfying little jerk, but then I saw I'd wrecked the socket and thought, damn, I'm strong!

An impact is nice to have even though I have never owned one. I use them at my job though. If you plan on doing a lot of work on your car, it would be a good idea to invest in some 1/2" drive tools for the times when you can't use an impact.

*Broaner* · 06-21-2004, 08:49 PM

I'm suprised nobody has noticed this. Tom it looks like the sockets took a beating but it is totally okay to use the impact sockets on a regular socket wrench. There should be a 1/2" extension and swivel somewhere in the toolbox. Those fxckers won't break.

MrDicks95SE · 06-21-2004, 09:39 PM

eh wait why would you need an extension in the first place to loosen strut bolts? would it not clear the fender or soemthing when you used the breaker bar? there should be enough room to use a standard socket wrench (wiht no extenstion) and breaker bar. i think thats why it broke... i could be wrong tho.
but still those bolts are held on there pretty tight if you broke something like that. did you WD40 those mothers? dunno if its safe to.

Zero Deuce SE · 06-22-2004, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broaner22

I'm suprised nobody has noticed this. Tom it looks like the sockets took a beating but it is totally okay to use the impact sockets on a regular socket wrench. There should be a 1/2" extension and swivel somewhere in the toolbox. Those fxckers won't break.

Swivels will break when using them with an impact gun. We break them at work every now and then when working on bulldozer undercarriages. They are designed for impact use and still break sometimes. I have never seen a broken extension though.

*I30tMikeD* · 06-22-2004, 05:37 AM

I bet you were trying to loosen the bolt side not the nut side. I broke an impact socket (cheap one though) cranking on the bolt side.

Zero Deuce SE · 06-22-2004, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I30tMikeD

I bet you were trying to loosen the bolt side not the nut side. I broke an impact socket (cheap one though) cranking on the bolt side.

I was trying to remove the rockguard bolts on a bulldozer. There are no nuts on them. They tend to get rusted into the bolt holes.

*endus* · 06-22-2004, 07:07 AM

Wow! Would definitely have expected the bolts to break or the head to strip before the socket breaking....woo! Glad I have air and an impact wrench now for when I change to illuminas.

*I30tMikeD* · 06-22-2004, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliekilo3

I was trying to remove the rockguard bolts on a bulldozer. There are no nuts on them. They tend to get rusted into the bolt holes.

uuhhhh...OK....great?? I did not quote your post.....it was directed twords the one who started this thread.

Zero Deuce SE · 06-22-2004, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I30tMikeD

uuhhhh...OK....great?? I did not quote your post.....it was directed twords the one who started this thread.

All righty then.

*VQuick* · 06-22-2004, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I30tMikeD

I bet you were trying to loosen the bolt side not the nut side. I broke an impact socket (cheap one though) cranking on the bolt side.

I didn't have a socket deep enough to put on the nut end because of the amount of bolt thread sticking out.

Give me a reason why it would matter one way or the other, because I can't think of one.

*I30tMikeD* · 06-22-2004, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masaccio

I didn't have a socket deep enough to put on the nut end because of the amount of bolt thread sticking out.

Give me a reason why it would matter one way or the other, because I can't think of one.

Because it's harder to turn the whole bolt than just the nut. The bolt may be wedged against the steering knuckle in a way that won't allow it to turn.

I have removed those bolts many, many times. I only had problems one time, and that was when I was trying to remove the bolt side and not the nut side. that was when I broke my impact socket (not using an impact gun)

*JSutter* · 06-22-2004, 12:02 PM

the sockets are 1) not deep enough, 2) 12 point (the 6 point looks like china crap to me), 3) not impact sockets, and 4) 3/8" drive....but ive been in the same boat it stinks. The best deep impact metric socket set for the money is at Wal-Mart, its 1/2" drive and under $20 for the set, 10mm to 23 or 24mm. Then get the Huskey (homedepot) or Crappsmen 1/2" breaker bar and ratchet. Good luck next time.

*spirilis* · 06-22-2004, 12:15 PM

3/8" drive, there ya go... I always use 1/2" drive tools when possible

Strut bolts/nuts are usually STILL a b**ch though...

*2k3TitaniumSe* · 06-22-2004, 01:57 PM

Wow! Can't believe that happened to the Craftsman tools.