petee_c

Looks like there are some folks here that work on their own vehicles, and some of them are pretty old.

Anyone here remove rusty nuts with an air chisel?

Looks like i'll have to do the rear sway bar links on my wife's 2003 Honda CRV. I did the front last year and it worked ok with an angle grinder, except for a burn on my arm when the severed and still hot nut fell inside the worn cuff of my old sweatshirt I was wearing while I was under the vehicle...... ouch...

I've been reading that an air chisel can be used to cut apart a nut.... just never done it before. I've used an air chisel to chip concrete, remove ceramic tile, but never on metal..... Does it work pretty good?

I can probably remove most of the sway bar link with the angle grinder, just wondering if an air chisel would work better.

Thanks,
Peter

vipola

And what about a nuts cutter? :P

atr911

Just an FYI, I don't think we've EVER removed swaybar links with anything less than a torch or a cutoff wheel. They just rust up too badly and the socked spins on it's self. One possible option is to use a pry bar and put pressure on the link and zip it off with an impact. This usually only works after a bath in penetrating oil and a good cleaning of the exposed threads.

Torch is the best way to go. In all honesty, we only charge 1 hour labour to remove and reinstall a pair of swaybar links, might not be worth the aggravation and the parts have a lifetime warranty if you use the 'premium' units.

JimV8

The best way to get rusty nuts off is with heat, get it cherry red and and then you will be able to wrench it off. Avoid admiring the rusty nut when it comes off by picking it up for a closer look.

Torontoworker

As Vince would say, 'Watch my nuts'!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUbWjIKxrrs
Sorry, could help myself...

Mark Lue

Hey Peter, I've done this several times on various daily drivers, Mechanic in their haste to "get the job done" will likely destroy perfectly good sway bar links by cutting them or over heating them,... guess who gets the preasure of paying for the new ones. If the sway link has a rubber boot heating it to red hot will destroy the rubber boot and the internals or cook the grease inside the link. I use an angle grinder to cut away enough of the nuts without damaging the threads and use new nuts when the job is done.

theiceman

the whole idea of taking the sway bar link off is to throw it in the garbage. I have an air chisel and wouldn't waste my time.. i have also done the angle grinder and cutoff wheel I like the cutoff wheel best as it is easier to control but you can't go wrong with the old angle grinder.

Imo000

The air chisel will probalby not work. Heating might not either as most of the newer swaybar link have a plastic socket. When the steel ball gets heated, it will melt the socket and the whole thing will pop apart. However this will not be any good as the ball and the nut are still a single piece. Cut it with a torch or with a cutting wheel is the easiest and least time consuming method.

Fastboy

Rusty nuts? My juvinile sense of humour is just itching to go with this -- but I'll remain mature and sensible. Its gonna be tough, though.

petee_c

i'll stick with the angle grinder.... I wonder if I can find a 3" wheel to fit it..... might make it easier to get to the nut without damaging the sway bar or control arm....

I don't have an air chisel, although my neighbor (wife's cousin) does and it's the one i use... I've used it more than him. He got it a couple years ago at a garage sale. it's old (i don't ever remember when tools came in a metal case) but in great shape.

atr911

I'll chime in again because we do this at least once a day.

I have never seen a tech use a chisle. Cut off wheel or cutting torch. You can't go wrong with those.

As for techs being hasty, if you want to pay them $95 an hour to carefully remove a part that probably needs to be replaced anyway and doesn't cost more than $30 each then that's your perogative I suppose.

Either way, easy job.

petee_c

i may end up supporting the economy and taking it in and getting a local shop to do it...

P

porsche0nut

naaah do it yourself! it will be far more rewarding

PPo

+1

You avoid wrecking everything else as well...

theiceman

.. if you happen to have an oxy-acetaline torch in the garage great .. not something the average home owner would have around I imagine..