Stubborn caliper pin on a 2010 Ford Focus finally gave in after I tried heat and PB blaster for an hour

Last Tuesday I was fighting a seized caliper pin on a customer's Focus. I soaked it in PB blaster for 20 minutes and hit it with a torch for a bit, but it still wouldn't budge with my impact gun. Out of frustration I grabbed a bottle of Coca Cola from my lunch and poured some around the pin. Let it sit for 5 minutes and the pin came loose with just a hand ratchet. Not sure if the cola broke down the rust or if the heat finally did its job, but it worked. Has anyone else tried soda pop on stuck hardware?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_emma16d ago

jamiew53 mentioned whether the cola trick is actually real. I've done this on rusty bolts before and it's not just a myth. The acid in cola is weak but it's still an acid, so it can break down rust a bit if you let it soak for a few minutes. Combined with the heat it probably just pushed the pin over the edge. I wouldn't rely on cola alone but it's a good backup when the PB blaster isn't cutting it.

jamiew5318d ago

Is the cola trick actually real or did the heat just finally kick in?

verawhite18d ago

The heat definitely helps but the cola trick is real too. I've tried it a few times when my AC was busted and the sugar in the cola really does seem to cool you down faster than just water. It's not magic but the science is pretty simple, the sugar and electrolytes help your body process the liquid quicker. People have been using it for years in hot climates, it's not some new fad. You probably need both the heat and the cola working together to feel the full effect though.