How you know it's time to take it to the Indy...

[artguy]

DISCLAIMER: (No Bimmers were harmed during the process of this carnage.) :eyecrazy

So the other night I went out to put new front brake pads on my daughter's '93 Infiniti J30.
Get out the breaker bar and sockets and start to loosen the caliper bolts.
The car is old...I expect a little resistance. But after nearly giving myself a hernia...

http://www.captive1.com/mrk/long_extension.png

OK. It must have been a cheap extension.
No sweat, I'll "break" out the Craftsman (pun intended).
I pull, I tug...I even heat the bolt with a torch and...

http://www.captive1.com/mrk/craftsman_ext.png

THAT'S when it's time to take it to the Indy.

MY KINGDOM FOR SOME AIR TOOLS!!!!

So $75 later the brakes work great and I'm off to Sears for a new extension.

[m60b30530i]

wow this only happened to me once when i bought a cheap ass extension :)

[artguy]

cheap ass extension :)

That's what I thought when the first one broke. I stopped thinking when the second one snapped.

[m60b30530i]

That's what I thought when the first one broke. I stopped thinking when the second one snapped.


:lol craftsman :rolleyes at least it has a lifetime warranty

[kipwinger]

I've done this with Matco and Snap On tools, some bolts are just too stubborn for their own good.

BTW: There is talk of Sears being bought and the new owners to be giving the lifetime warranty the boot.

[genocide98]

I've done this with Matco and Snap On tools, some bolts are just too stubborn for their own good.

BTW: There is talk of Sears being bought and the new owners to be giving the lifetime warranty the boot.

lol they'd lose their customers. I know I'd never buy another tool from that damn place..

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

BTW: There is talk of Sears being bought and the new owners to be giving the lifetime warranty the boot.


Sears has already been bought by Kmart....:(

[Binjammin]

I think the problem here is how you're trying to remove the bolt. I certainly have sheared or broken my share of tools and/or bolts while working.

I'm guessing you were pulling as hard as you could on the ratchet to get the bolt out, right? The problem is that you want to shock the bolt out when it gets stuck like that. Sharp, jerking pulls on the ratchet will work so much better than constant hard pulling, it just allows you to break the bolts free that much more easily.


HTH

[zubbie]

I think the problem here is how you're trying to remove the bolt. I certainly have sheared or broken my share of tools and/or bolts while working.

I'm guessing you were pulling as hard as you could on the ratchet to get the bolt out, right? The problem is that you want to shock the bolt out when it gets stuck like that. Sharp, jerking pulls on the ratchet will work so much better than constant hard pulling, it just allows you to break the bolts free that much more easily.


HTH

+1 BFH as we say :buttrock

[clevertd]

Sears has already been bought by Kmart....:(

Bah, I work for Sears. Don't even want to talk about how we were the only store open in the mall for Easter. thanks kmart!

[artguy]

I'm guessing you were pulling as hard as you could on the ratchet to get the bolt out, right? The problem is that you want to shock the bolt out when it gets stuck like that. Sharp, jerking pulls on the ratchet will work so much better than constant hard pulling, it just allows you to break the bolts free that much more easily.
See...now that's why his name is on a wrench!

I did do a little "hammer-smack-the-prybar" in between pulls. But I never thought of it the way you described. I will keep that in mind for all future projects. Thanks.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Grow some balls and buy pneumatic tools:buttrock

[zubbie]

it also helps if you use 1/2" or better yet 3/4" tools on those ugly bolts

[Rebel635csi]

aaand thats why i love my air tools!!!

[robram12]

First off all are you sure you're turning the bolt the right direction? Counterclock to loosen. Easily mistaken since bolts are facing toward you from the side of the car. Those bolts couldn't and shouldn't be that thight to begin with. I've done brake jobs from several old car and i've never had this prob, braking a socket. And i do use craftsman tool set. Try blasting some Wd40 or PBblaster on the bolts, should help. Good luck.

[zubbie]

aaand thats why i love my air tools!!!

I'm with you there. I've got decent air tools but only a pancake compressor :(...Talk about painful...time to upgrade