Trouble with a rusted hex nut. Need advice.

[xagna]

This is truly a beginner's moment... =-(

Trying to unmount front sway bar.
In the process, I striped one of the hex nut holding the sway bar... Drives me nuts. It is completely stripped and stuck there.
Is there any way I can get this off?

[pwave16]

I had the same problem happen with one of the bolts for the rear suspension. I just used a cut-off wheel to remove and replaced them with grade8 nuts and bolts -way stronger than factory bolts anyway. If you don't have a cut off wheel you can also use a chisel to split the nut and free the bolt. Unfortunately, either method will require the replace of the nut and most likely bolt too.

[NemeGuero]

Vice grips and just grab the bishh really tight.. then go to the hardware store and get a new one

[SHIFT_control]

I had this exact problem when i replaced my front sway. There is a special set of sockets made to grab rounded off nuts, but I think they're very expensive. (My Dad is a nissan master tech, has a set of em.) What sways are you using? The ST sways come with new bolts, but you will need new nuts.

[kandyflip445]

You can use a chisel and hammer straight into the nut to make an indention. Then angle the chisel in the indention so that when you strike it it will take the nut off. I've used this to get some crazy stuck on bolts on some Dodge transmissions.

[aznpoopy]

craftsman bolt out

or use a vice grip

or use a metal file and file down two sides flat and use a vice grip

or dremel it off

[smily_vigor]

Everybody's pretty right, worst case senario if you don't want to spend any money then use the vice grips. But there are tools made for this. You can go to Sears and pick up the craftsman version for not too much money. It looks like a socket but inside it has spiral sparp grooves in a clockwise direction. You can buy the individual size or a set of four or five. Ask the dude at the counter they'll know what it is. When you turn the bolt off using it, it grabs into the bolt and pulls it out. Trust me it's better to get that tool because I promise you it won't be the last time you'll use it.

[aznpoopy]

Trust me it's better to get that tool because I promise you it won't be the last time you'll use it.

oh hellz yeah.

i <3 my bolt out.

[xagna]

I had this exact problem when i replaced my front sway. There is a special set of sockets made to grab rounded off nuts, but I think they're very expensive. (My Dad is a nissan master tech, has a set of em.) What sways are you using? The ST sways come with new bolts, but you will need new nuts.

Have a stock sway bar. Can you find out what those tools are called?

[xagna]

Everybody's pretty right, worst case senario if you don't want to spend any money then use the vice grips. But there are tools made for this. You can go to Sears and pick up the craftsman version for not too much money. It looks like a socket but inside it has spiral sparp grooves in a clockwise direction. You can buy the individual size or a set of four or five. Ask the dude at the counter they'll know what it is. When you turn the bolt off using it, it grabs into the bolt and pulls it out. Trust me it's better to get that tool because I promise you it won't be the last time you'll use it.

think that is what I got from Pep Boys. 5 pieces for 23 bucks.
Fits to 1/2 drive and has left hand bound spiral grooves.
Don't know how to use this yet.

Should I use this air tool instead of socket wrenches in my hand?

[aznpoopy]

think that is what I got from Pep Boys. 5 pieces for 23 bucks.
Fits to 1/2 drive and has left hand bound spiral grooves.
Don't know how to use this yet.

Should I use this air tool instead of socket wrenches in my hand?

how to use it? its simple.

put it on the bolt. turn it a little counterclockwise so it locks onto the bolt.

now put your breaker bar in there and turn as hard as you can. these spiral sockets do not strip. rather, they will dig grooves into the bolt and hold on for dear life.

[smily_vigor]

It would be better to use the socket or a breaker bar like he said cause it's more precise. If you use the impact gun you might slip off and mess up the whole thing. Just get it on, slowly turn and lock onto the bolt, then take the ratchet or breaker bar and turn it right off.

[xagna]

how to use it? its simple.

put it on the bolt. turn it a little counterclockwise so it locks onto the bolt.

now put your breaker bar in there and turn as hard as you can. these spiral sockets do not strip. rather, they will dig grooves into the bolt and hold on for dear life.

Counterclockwise?
I thought I was to turn it clockwise to lock it on the bolt then turn counterclockwise to unscrew...

BTW How is WB40 compared to PB Blaster?

[smily_vigor]

Well Wd-40 is a more general lubricant, there are others specificallly made for rusted and seized bolts can remember all the names right now. Some work better than others but the point is to just spray something on there to help loosen it up.

[aznpoopy]

Counterclockwise?
I thought I was to turn it clockwise to lock it on the bolt then turn counterclockwise to unscrew...

BTW How is WB40 compared to PB Blaster?

a regular bolt turns clockwise to screw in.

the direction of the spiral in a bolt-out is reversed, so when you turn counterclockwise to take out the bolt, the spiral edges will dig into the bolt.

pb blaster > all. wd-40 is weaksauce. as the guy above me stated, wd-40 tends to be more of a general purpose lube; pb blaster is specifically made to own stuck bolts and the like.

[xagna]

Thanks,



Will I be able to get the PB Blaster at home depot or Auto Zone?

How much a can?

[aznpoopy]

my local pepboys carries it. dunno about autozone. how much? i forget... probably $5 bucks or so.

[kandyflip445]

I remember a tv show saying that WD-40 was originally made to PREVENT the formation of rust on missiles or something.