TIL that PB blaster isnt always the answer for seized bolts

I spent 3 hours last Saturday trying to break loose a lower control arm bolt on a 2002 F-150, soaking it in PB every 20 minutes with zero luck. Finally got fed up and tried heating the nut with a propane torch for about 2 minutes, then hit it with a cold wet rag, and it spun right off with just a ratchet. Anyone else have weird tricks for rusted bolts that worked when the normal stuff didnt?

3 comments

3 Comments

rileyb612d ago

Hot take here, but heating and quenching like that can mess with the metal's temper and make it brittle over time, especially on something like a suspension bolt. PB Blaster might be slow, but it's way safer for the parts you want to keep using. You got lucky with that trick, but I'd rather wait another hour than risk snapping a bolt clean off in the frame.

the_holly2d ago

Totally agree @rileyb61, patience usually beats shortcuts in every part of life lol.

brooke7671d ago

Totally get the safety concern, but sometimes nothing else works on a bolt that's been rust-welded for 15 years. I'd rather risk a slightly weaker bolt than have the thing stuck forever.