i noticed my passenger side outer axel boot had a tear so i orderd a boot kit to do the repair myslef... there was no clicking so i figure the joint itself is fine.... ive been trying to get the 36mm bolt off of the axel for 2 hours now... ive used half a can of wd 40 and now have broken a 1/2 craftsman breaker bar into pieces... i dont think this is normal but if any1 can suggest anything that may help me it would be much appreciated... ive done the following

1.removed the pin/cap that go around the nut
2.used half a can of wd-40
3.banged the nut with a piece of wood/hammer to try and unfreeze it
4.used a 4 ft piece of pipe ontop of the 1/2" breaker bar
5.broke the breaker bar into pieces...

i have other 1/2" ratchets and breaker bars to use but for some reason this nut is really stuck...
thx in advance for the help fellas

 

I used a Dewalt electric impact wrench. Worked just fine.

 

IMPACT GUN!

'nuf said...

 

wish i had an impact wrench.... or an air compressor...i have air tools but no compressor... im trying to do this with my own super powers :P

 

3/4" breaker bar and a 3-4 ft long pipe as a cheater. You might want to mount the spare and lower the car down or use a long thick prybar inbetween the wheel studs. These nuts are spec'd to 90ish ft/lbs? But once they have been on there for sometime. It takes well over 100ft/lbs to break the nut loose

 

thx for the help jeff... i think im sol without an impact gun though..... i put ont he spare dropped the car down off the jack
and broke yet another craftsman rachet.... its def on with more then 100 lbs of torqe... im going to try and break another craftfman wrench if i have one... i dont have any 3/4 or i would break one of those 2 :P oh well i might have to give this one up...but not without breaking a few more replacable tools

 

The 1/2" ratchets are not very strong! Don't use ratchet wrenches for breaking nuts/bolt loose! You could try a 1/2" drive breaker bar but even those are too puny. I VERY much doubt you could break a 3/4" breaker bar. Go to Sears and scope them out. I actually bought a 3/4" drive breaker and socket but it's the one that has the bar that slides back and forth. It was cheaper and seems just as strong. You could maybe rent one too.

 

yeah i broke 1 of each a breaker bar and a ratchet...ive closed this project up for today..maby ill go with the 3/4 tom or maby ill just buy a damn compressor...oh well..thx again the spare tire trick seems to be the way to go..

 

Drive down to a gas station that does repairs with your spare on and ask him to crack it loose with his impact guy. Then just make it snug for your drive home and tip the man.

 

My experience pretty much parallels everyone else’s. I had to resort to a 3/4" breaker bar w/jack handle. They're tightened to 200ftlbs IIRC. You'll surely snap any of the 1/2" stuff (as I did to multiple tools ) Using the spare is the best approach considering the torque involved. I had to since my socket wouldn't fit through the opening on my wheel.