Help!! A bolt will not unscrew!!
Help!! A bolt will not unscrew!!
Author
Discussion

rharris21

Original Poster:

195 posts

201 months

Saturday 11th June 2011
quotequote all
How do remove a bolt that it is absolutely solid?

I am replacing an air con pipe on a 330ci - it is such a simple job.. although I thought - two bolts to remove.
The first one was simple no fuss. However the second one which is by the exhaust manifold is absolutely screwed in solid.

I have tried soaking overnight in wd-40 on someones advise.

What advise does anyone else have?

I am desperate to get the new pipe fitted so I can get the air con re gassed.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

liquidken

1,816 posts

272 months

Saturday 11th June 2011
quotequote all
Theres not much else.

You can try tightening it a little more - hopefully breaking whatever corrosive seal is stopping it from undoing. ALternatively, you could get some heat on it. You'd need to be very careful though and do it gently.

Moar

5,512 posts

198 months

Saturday 11th June 2011
quotequote all
plus gas?

griffter

4,143 posts

286 months

Sunday 12th June 2011
quotequote all
clean it up as best you can with a small wire brush and plus gas or wd40. Then tap it gently with a hammer to try to break corrosive seal. If theres room, exert torsion on the bolt with a spanner and tap the spanner increasingly hard in the same direction. Good luck... The simplest jobs often turn out to be the most demanding.

bluetone

2,047 posts

250 months

Sunday 12th June 2011
quotequote all
If there is room, you could try hammering a socket one-size too small on. Bear in mind you may ruin it in the process.

There are also specific sockets you can buy for the job. Will see if I can dig out a reference for you. Make sure you have replacement bolt the same size as the seized one as it will likely be scrap after removal.

bluetone

2,047 posts

250 months

Sunday 12th June 2011
quotequote all
Here you go:

http://m.screwfix.com/pr-gallery.htm?id=96028#imgg...

Good luck - pain the arris job.

If all else fails, a local garage would likely make quick work of it with the application of some heat.

bluetone

2,047 posts

250 months

Sunday 12th June 2011
quotequote all
+ just to add, the above apply once you've rounded the bolt head off, which is highly likely, in my experience wink

klarky

70 posts

206 months

Sunday 12th June 2011
quotequote all
Heat will be your best bet, it's why I have a cheap blow torch I got from home base for working on an old 205gti where bolts are rusted tight.