Hey guys, I was working on my car little today. HAD THE WORST ******* LUCK!!

Doing the clutch, had to take out axles. But the axle nuts are so hard to get loose, I got the driver side loose but broke a breaker bar in the process, went out and rented one, then doing the passenger side, broke that one.... like WTF!!


You guys have any tips on how to get a STUBBORN axle nut loose. I sprayed with wd40, should i hit it with a hammer to break the rust loose?

AND Also, trying to do the driver side, while jacking up the car, the jack went bad, you know how you keep pumping it and it looses pressure, from bad seals probably.

So how should i get a stubborn axle nut loose? Is a impact gun my only other choice?

 

PB Blaster would be a good start. If nothing else, grab a torch and heat it up a little...of course, wait for the PB Blaster to evaporate before torching it.

Dumb question, but did you take the cotter pin out before trying to pry that castle nut off the axle?? If not, you're in for a rough ride

 

there is no cotter pin in the axle nut, it's just a piece you hammer down to keep it from coming off, requardless, that shouldn't stop it from being pried loose.

 

If you want to trash the axel cut the nut I had to do that once axels are cheap but pb blaster the **** out of it, and use a 3/4'' breaker bar on it. I've not once yet had once that could stand up to my 4ft 3/4'' breaker bar

 

heat will probably help. and it doesnt need to be red hot.

 

Thanks for help. What is 3/4" the size of the socket? ( like 3/8", 1/2" etc...)?

And where would you find this 3/4" breaker bar

 

sorry meant 3/4'' drive you know like a ratchet is 3/8th drive well this is 3/4''! some serious ****...any tools store really. and it requires 3/4'' socket in 32mm obv.

 

If u have access to an air impact gun then use it. Even an 18v cordless impact will break axle nuts loose easy

 

How?! axle nuts are 134 ft/lbs and my dewalt only pushes out 110 ft/lbs

 

lol,i have a snap on impact gun, bought it used for cheap, but am not able to obtain it right now

 

thanks, yeah that 3/4" drive is big as f*ck ( thats what she said, sorry lol.)

Dammit i have a 32mm socket in 1/2in.

I might invest in a decent air compressor and a good impact wrench, i do a lot of the work by myself so i think it will be pay itself off, unless the damn tools break!!

 

can anyone tell me exactly how impact wrenches work??

Like if the compressor makes 125 psi, does that equate to 125 ft-lb or torque?

 

what is it a 3/8 impact is it even an 18v?? maybe because its dewalt garbage?? ive used my 18v to bust 10 semi truck lug nuts to see if it could even turn them it did all 10 and they were torqued before hand to 500ftlbs

 

i have a el cheapo one from an auto parts store... 24v and does 220 ft/lbs in reverse..


this is a trick a shade tree mechanic frind told me about stuck bolts. go get a cheap propane torch from walmart/hardware store and heat up the nut... once its nice and toasty, touch a crayon to the threads, the heat will melt the wax and suck it into the threads and act like lube.

honestly though, if you are going to be doing alot of your own work, i would invest in airtools.

as far as the torque on the impact guns. they all have their own ratings. Most are only ratted for 90psi on air (make sure you set the regulator) i have a 26gal bostich compressor i picked up from walmart and a kobalt impact from lowes. ive not found a single bolt it wont crack loose... 500 ft/lbs. Did an axle the other day and it took the axel nut off like it was a lugnut. heck, there are trucks out there that the lugs torque to more than what our axle nuts are...

newer chevy silverado are 140.... some of the newer f-150s are 150

 

i use a 3 foot piece of pipe on a hefty socket wrench then sit my *** crack on it (jack stand under the socket extension). a bit of rocking motion on the bar eases it off ftw woot.

 

Heating it with a propane torch should do the trick!

 

I don't have air tools so when I run into a stuck spindle nut I just take it to a local tire shop. You should be able to find one that will do it for $5-10. They can get it in seconds with the air tools they have. Then they can tighten it back up and you'll have no problem once you get back home.

If it's seized badly enough that I can't get it with a 2-4' breaker, heat has never worked for me.

 

Unstake the axle nut first. Meaning un-dimple the dimple. It makes it easier to remove. I can't imagine it not coming off with a breaker bar.

I use my Ingersoll 20V cordless impact (1,100 lb-ft) <---not a typo. But I've always been able to do it with a breaker bar and an extender.

 

you'd be surprised the amount of force that can be transferred via a good 3/4'' or monster 1'' drive breaker bar especially at 4ft out with you standing on it. Have yet to encounter something my 3/4'' drive 4ft bar and pb blaster didn't break free.

 

1100ft lbs holy **** that must merk anything good price too

 

I have generally good luck with a breaker bar but sometimes these things really seize. Me standing on a 4' breaker is about 1000 ft lbs but that is not always enough. In my experience sometimes particular bolts/studs/etc. go "bad" and they seem to always seize. I do not know the science of it.

 

I almost snapped my 3/4 breaker bar so I said **** it and took out my impact. Rated for 400lbs. Took it off in 2 seconds.

I was soaking it in pb blaster for 2 days too lol

Stupid thing got stolen when someone jacked my friends car.

 

Undent the dent and make sure that there is no debris in the undented area.