removing stripped rusted on nuts

[DrMcDave]

Etasport and i had a hell of a day trying to remove some plastic bumpers from my parts car, we tried everything to get them off. The nuts wouldn't budge. Just wanna make sure that drilling them out is my next/only option or if there is some other way to remove them. i couldn't even get them to move with my impact wrench.

[MattE30]

Plasma cutter :twisted:

[bimmerphile]

I'm sure you tried liquid wrench, etc right?

If so, then I think drilling them (or matt's option) is all you have left.

[Jordan]

I wouldnt want to drill them out... they are at least grade 8.8 hardened steel.

Try some PB Blaster on them, it is what I use to break rusted on stuff free. If that fails try directed heat, and keep the heat off the bumper.

[DrMcDave]

looks like drilling it is. THIS SHOULD BE FUN

[KenC]

I wouldnt want to drill them out... they are at least grade 8.8 hardened steel.

Try some PB Blaster on them, it is what I use to break rusted on stuff free. If that fails try directed heat, and keep the heat off the bumper.

Kind of off topic, sorry. Jordan, where did you find PB Blaster? I looked at like 4 different places in Eugene and couldn't find any.

[MattE30]

I got mine at autozone. Good stuff.

[DrMcDave]

well pb blaster it is. I might still have to drill one though because its pretty stripped.

[Jordan]

Autozone has it.

[DrMcDave]

assuming worst case scenario and i have to drill these out, is it exteremely important that i don't strip the threads or can that part be easily replaced.

[EtaSport]

I can attest to everything. Generally there are 4 bolts holding the rear bumper shocks onto the car, the two on the passenger side came off with ease while the ones on the driver side were a PITA. The stud on the shock actually came off and the bolt is basically spinning inside of the mount. The other one can possibly be taken off, but it is stripped to a degree. These two bolts are the last ones holding to bumper to the car.

The front is a whole nother story. And I have to ask, how in the world do you really get the bumper off? It seems to me that you should be able to remove the bumper still attached to the shock, but I cant find out where the shocks unbolt from. Jordan, i know that you know where these bolts are, if you could shed some light, im sure it would make things go much smoother.

Dave, hope everything goes well. I left that orange looking drop cloth and a socket wrench up at your house, then I noticed I grabed one of you extensions by mistake, so when we meet again, we'll have to exchange.

[Jordan]

There are only 2 bolts that mainly secure the front bumper. It is possible (I've timed it) to walk up to a plastic bumpered car, remove these 2 bolts, and be walking away with the bumper all in less then 30 seconds....

anyways....

if the PB blaster fails you, I do have one more trick.

Go out and buy a large can of "canned air" its for blowing dust out of electronic cases, keyboards etc. You dont want the air, you want the propellent in it :)

Shake the can up realllllly good, and hold the can upside down, give it a couple sprays. It should start to shoot out a COLD white mist. Dont shoot it at yourself or anyone else, one very short burst will cause instant frostburn to the skin.

Aim the inverted can at the head of the bolt, freeze the fucker, then try to turn it. If it still wont turn freeze it again, and hit it with a hammer until it breaks.

[DrMcDave]

funny you say not to shoot that at people, i've been shot with it about 5 times this semester in optics lab.

i cant exactly hit them with a hammer because it won't fit but this sounds like a good plan. do you think they will crack the whole way up though? or do i just have to keep chipping away? i bought a 1/2 hp drill for my air compressor it tears through the metal pretty well but its a bit of a PITA.