Big problem with bumper removal..

[MitchFong]

Managed to get the driver's side torx bolt off from under thr bumper, but the passenger side will now budge. Broke a rachet and 2 size t55 torx bits.
I brought it to a garage today and the only thing they could do was heat it, but i said no as it would melt the bumper to.

Anyone have any siggestions? doesnt seem like there is any possible way of doing this without applying heat to the bolt that is stuck. Rust remover wont work as your can only spray up at the head of the torx bolt and nothing gets around the threads. Kinda pissed off here now. New is lip wants on real bad and i can't do it until i figure this out. Atleast i have till spring..

-Mitch

[Dave]

Why do you need a bumper off to mount the lip? Is your valance fubar?

[MitchFong]

Yea the valence is bent a bit where the fog light busted out. Doesnt fit right.

[T.Dot_E30]

take the bumper cover off, then heat.......you may still damage parts of the car and parts of the rebar.....but it should work.

[MitchFong]

thats what i was thinking but i didnt know how. I took the bumper trim off, i assume thats the first part involved with it?

[browntown]

pb blaster is thin enough that it should seep up into the threads, soak it down overnight, you have nothing to lose. Next time you get a bitch of a bolt, use your breaker bar, not your ratchet. Doesnt sound like it would neccessarily have worked here since you broke the bits too, granted.

edit: if they make impact torx sockets, try that. I'm pretty sure craftsman sells a bolt out kit that is impact grade. If the impact wrench dont help, time to bust out the bernzomatic.

[e30Matt]

If a torch doesn't work, you can always drill the sumbitch.

[MitchFong]

pb blaster is thin enough that it should seep up into the threads, soak it down overnight, you have nothing to lose. Next time you get a bitch of a bolt, use your breaker bar, not your ratchet. Doesnt sound like it would neccessarily have worked here since you broke the bits too, granted.

edit: if they make impact torx sockets, try that. I'm pretty sure craftsman sells a bolt out kit that is impact grade. If the impact wrench dont help, time to bust out the bernzomatic.

Yea, should have. Didnt realize how strong it was in so i kept pulling till the rachet gave up.
Ill try that pb plast, but i think im gunna drill it out. Heat just doesnt seem like a good solution.

[Digitalwave]

Leverage is your friend. Put a big ass pipe on the end of whatever wrench you are using and you will be able to get it off.

[SpecM]

-Don't use a ratchet, they will break with enough torque. Use a BIG breaker bar. They don't snap so easily. ;)

[Digitalwave]

The bumper bolts are not on tight enough that you are going to break a rachet.

[Jordan]

The bumper bolts are not on tight enough that you are going to break a rachet.

It's likely a $10 made in China special from Autozone. Not a $150 SnapOn :)

[Dave]

Leverage is your friend. Put a big ass pipe on the end of whatever wrench you are using and you will be able to get it off.

Should work. I will note that I broke my 3/8" breaker bar doing this once.

[MitchFong]

Tj, i would agree with you if i didnt witness it.
I brought it to a garage, put it on a lift, and even their tools could not budge it. We were using breaker bars, etc, with 2 foot bar extensions and couldnt budge it.
And it was a mastercraft rachet that i broke, there not that bad.
Etiher way it wont move, its rediculous.

[MitchFong]

-Don't use a ratchet, they will break with enough torque. Use a BIG breaker bar. They don't snap so easily. ;)

See i need a t55 torx boly strong enough not to break before the breaker bar will... Need some titanium action here i think.