So, I started to change the oil this weekend and found that 3 of the skid plate bolts were rusted tight. I broke a socket trying to remove one, so I took it to a local oil change/service place - been using them with my other cars for 7 years with no issues. They called 15 mins later and said that they had broken two sockets trying to remove the bolts.

Today, I got under and found that what *really* happened was that they successfully loosened two of the bolts, but the third stuck one was rounded off. Nicely rounded off. I don't want to spend the time drilling and rethreading, so it's off to a mechanic...all for an oil change.

Although, I did put anti-seize on all of the other bolts...

 

should take it back to the oil change place, or buy the socket remover set by irwin at local autoparts store. the set really works

 

Assuming there is access to the bolt: Get a Dremel w/ a cut off wheel and cut a slit in the head of the bolt large enough to wedge a large flat blade screwdriver. Voila.

 

so you can't turn a bolt with six points of contact and a 14 inch long ratchet and you figure a screwdriver with two points of contact with basically zero leverage and zero torque will work...

This is the solution.


Combined with heat from a torch to use the expansion of the hot metal to help break the rust. (If available)

or a long breaker bar, pipe, anything to add leverage.

or an impact gun...

and if it breaks the bolt, drilling and an easy out is the answer,



if none of the above remove the bolt, re-threading (or drilling and installing a bolt with a nut if possible) is the solution.

But a lack of tools leads to only one solution: paying someone else to fix it. Personally, I prefer to spend money on tools rather than shop labour. Any tool in a tool box will pay for it self in the savings on labour and shop charges.

The best advice regarding broken sockets is to invest in a set of impact sockets. they still fit on a ratchet if you don't have an impact gun, but are pretty close to indestructible.

 

I have always had the best luck with the spiral EasyOut as shown above. That was a good post with the two pictures - I like that.

It may however be because I have never used the Irwin sockets before. They look pretty effective and easy to use - certainly easier than drilling and you still have that option when the head twists off.

Screw & Bolt Extractors - Tools - IRWIN TOOLS

What bothers me most however is wondering if the 3 has ever had an oil change previously. How can studs get rusted in that badly?

 

I broke couple of Craftsman bolt extractors before buying this one. It costs like a whole Craftsman kit, but is right on the job.

 

That ol' adage, you get what you pay for applies here... Neat stuff, I can't stand easy outs, never had any luck with them. I found it was easier to carefully drill out everything but the threads.

 

Those extractor sockets have yet to let me down. Worth every penny if you work on automobiles.