Hey guys - trying to remove the two bolts on the steering rack to install the infamous steering rack brace but the bolts are too tight. If I push any harder, I feel like either the socket will break or the bolt head will shear or round out. When I first put the wrench to it, you could hear a littel click as if the bolt was finally giving and coming loose - but it won't turn. Anybody seen this - remedy? Should the weight be taken off the front wheels to relieve any pressure on the rack? I thought about putting a torch on it??? Doesn't look like the front end tray had ever been off.

1995 993
106K miles - 3 options: roof, cruise, radio w/door speaker & tweeters No mods at all that I know of.

 

Marlon, these bolts are tight with locktite on them took good force to break loose.
Before you get to far, from the picture it looks like you might be trying to remove the wrong bolts. The brace goes on the front bolts under the fluid lines toward the front of the car.

 

Bolt extractors should do the trick. See link.

http://www.brandsplace.com/0246-vis394001.html

Edit: sorry I thought your bolts were stripped, don't use these unless they are stripped. I would apply heat to them and just give it hell to break them loose. Use the bolt extractors as last resort.


Jay

 

Revised my last post see the picture. I may be wrong but don't think the bar will fit any other way.

 

Best way to remove stuck allen bolts like these is to give it a good whack, do not use a constant torque force trying to remove them as for sure you will strip it. A sudden jolt or shock generally does a good trick to break them loose.

 

+ what Robin said. I've had good success removing stuck fasteners by using a sharp chisel on the edge of the bolt, giving it a couple of sharp taps in the direction of rotation.

 

Chisel? Ouch! I can see a lot of damage I could do with a chisel and hammer under my car!

 

Any other thoughts? My bolt is frozen as well.

 

I shot mine with PB Blaster, let it sit for a week, then used a socket wrench with the Allen type head to remove it. The longer the wrench the more force you can apply to the bolt. Mine was frozen at first, but came off fairly easily on the second attempt with the right tools and PB Blaster. Good luck!

 

Yup, try using a Liquid Wrench or something to chemically loosen the bolts. Tap the allen socket wrench (not sure an allen key is the best tool here) and use a breaker bar for a bit more leverage. I did not use Liquid Wrench when I added my steering rack brace five years ago.

 

All of the above suggestions are excellent - here is one more. Try tightening the bolt a bit to break the blue locktite first - then reverse the socket wrench and the bolt should come out easily.

 

Ensure all of the cosmoline is out of the allen bolt head. Brake clean squited into the bolt head will help. You want all of the engagement possible. Use a high quality allen driver. Be deliberate and quick in turning the bolt loose. They usually 'crack' loose, so to speak.

 

Also use a short allen key socket so the force is transmitted to the bolt, not absorbed by the long allen key acting like a spring. I second Chris, you need a good quality set. I have a cheaper set and a good German set...the german set seems to work better on tight bolts with much less rounding...

Funny, last time I put one of these braces on a rack the bolts were right but not that tight....

Cheers,

Mike

 

If you have access to air tools, an impact gun on a low to medium setting will usually release bolts without damage ...... work the bolt in both directions.

 

If it's Loctited, I would NOT do any of the above. Heat with a butane torch and the bolt will come out fairly easily. Trust me.