Stuck bolt
 

I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts. They
could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the one
that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
sockets.

Any suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks.

This may not sound helpful but I would suggest that you spray a lot of WD40
on them on one day and then bring them to someone else (another mechanic)
the next day.
Some are better at turning wrenches than others.
Also, who knows (?) , maybe the mechanic was in a hurry to get out of work
and exagerated about the broken sockets.
I would take it to another shop after you soak it a day in the WD40


"JHI" > wrote in message
...
> I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts. They
> could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the
one
> that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
> sockets.
>
> Any suggestions are welcomed.
>
> Thanks.
>
>

JHI wrote:
> I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts. They
> could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the one
> that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
> sockets.
>
> Any suggestions are welcomed.
>
> Thanks.
>
>

penetrating oil, air tools, finally just cut the mother off and replace
it. I haven't a clue what the lower shock bolt on an Intrepid looks
like, but it surely is just a standard bolt and nut like what I'd
consider a "normal" car?

If it's *not* normal, how about a nut splitter and then chase the
threads with a rethreading die?

Can someone clue me in as to what is so difficult about the lower shock
bolt on an Intrepid? I'm a little amazed that a mechanic would actually
say that he couldn't do a job because he couldn't get a bolt loose.
(well, unless it threaded into a blind hole in cast iron... those *can*
be problematic.)

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

WD-40 sucks, use a real penetrating oil like Kroil or Wuerth Rost Off.
PB Blaster works OK, just not as well as the other two (but you're more
likely to find it in a store)

WD-40 is great for cleaning locks and stuff and for drying out your
distributor cap... but as a penetrating oil I've never had much luck
with it...

nate

stevefrench wrote:
> This may not sound helpful but I would suggest that you spray a lot of WD40
> on them on one day and then bring them to someone else (another mechanic)
> the next day.
> Some are better at turning wrenches than others.
> Also, who knows (?) , maybe the mechanic was in a hurry to get out of work
> and exagerated about the broken sockets.
> I would take it to another shop after you soak it a day in the WD40
>
>
> "JHI" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts. They
>>could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the
>
> one
>
>>that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
>>sockets.
>>
>>Any suggestions are welcomed.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>
>
>
>


--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

I've had better luck with PB Blaster than Kroil.
Pb you can at least get easily. Kroil is hard to find.
(works good getting paint off your hands too but I wouldnt recommend it)

"Nate Nagel" > wrote in message
news:1118194571.2fc80172966c2f9fee08956ffb663f90@t eranews...
> JHI wrote:
> > I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts.
They
> > could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the
one
> > that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
> > sockets.
> >
> > Any suggestions are welcomed.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
>
> penetrating oil, air tools, finally just cut the mother off and replace
> it. I haven't a clue what the lower shock bolt on an Intrepid looks
> like, but it surely is just a standard bolt and nut like what I'd
> consider a "normal" car?
>
> If it's *not* normal, how about a nut splitter and then chase the
> threads with a rethreading die?
>
> Can someone clue me in as to what is so difficult about the lower shock
> bolt on an Intrepid? I'm a little amazed that a mechanic would actually
> say that he couldn't do a job because he couldn't get a bolt loose.
> (well, unless it threaded into a blind hole in cast iron... those *can*
> be problematic.)
>
> nate
>
> --
> replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
> http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

"JHI" > wrote in message
...
> I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts. They
> could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the
one
> that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
> sockets.
>

Stainless steel is not particularly strong for this kind of work. Hardened
steel sockets particularly ones designed for air impact guns and made from
chrome
molybdenum steel are what you use.

Ted

I would recommend you find a garage that a) uses real tools and b) isn't
totally full of ****.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

JHI wrote:
>
> I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts. They
> could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the one
> that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
> sockets.
>
> Any suggestions are welcomed.
>
> Thanks.

Thanks to all,

Jeff
"Mike Romain" > wrote in message
...
>I would recommend you find a garage that a) uses real tools and b) isn't
> totally full of ****.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> JHI wrote:
>>
>> I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts. They
>> could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the
>> one
>> that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
>> sockets.
>>
>> Any suggestions are welcomed.
>>
>> Thanks.

In article >,
says...
>
>
>I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts. They
>could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the one
>that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
>sockets.
>
>Any suggestions are welcomed.

Take it to a better shop who knows what they are doing.
-----------
Alex

I took it to another shop...same results.
"Alex Rodriguez" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
>>
>>
>>I brought my 1997 Dodge Intrepid into the shop for new rear struts. They
>>could not do the job because they could not remove the lower bolts (the
>>one
>>that run parallel to the ground). He told me that he broke 2 stainless
>>sockets.
>>
>>Any suggestions are welcomed.
>
> Take it to a better shop who knows what they are doing.
> -----------
> Alex
>