How do I work this impact wrench?

[MP5driva03]

I don't quite know why I put this in the P5 forum, but oh well...

...anyways, my friend finally got his Tein S-Tech lowering springs for his Project Honda Integra, and we have spent the past few days trying to get the damn things on ourselves. We got the front ones on without a problem, but when we moved to do the back, everything went to hell. We could'nt get the spring compressor to work. We fixed it. When couldn't get the bolts to match up. We fixed it. Now, we can't seem to get the bolt that attaches the supporting arm to the shock/coilover assembly to come off. The thing just won't move. My friend got so pissed that he partially stripped it, but it might still work with the right tools. Anyway, the question is this: how do I work an impact wrench? My dad used to work on cars alot, and he told me that whenever a bolt gave him trouble, that's what he used. I thought I could figure out how to work it, but I would much rather ask for yall's help than break stuff.

Thanks,

Chandler

 

[MP5driva03]

can anyone help me out?

 

[Jim Frye]

Sure, which way did you come in?

can anyone help me out?

Seriously, what kind of impact wrench are you attempting to use? Air, electric, or the kind you smack with a hammer.
In any case, put a socket on the impact wrench that fits the bolt or nut head and box end wrench on the remaining bolt or nut, set the impact wrench to loosen (Rightsey Titesy, Leftsy Loosey), let the impact wrench hammer on things. Jim

 

[MP5driva03]

haha thanks Jim. It's the one you smack with a hammer, and I just really don't wanna screw things up more. You see, I don't know which way to turn the thing b4 I smack it. Nevermind, I'm just stupid.

 

[FuNwaGoN]

Hmmmmm the impact wrench that you smack with a hammer. Never seen one of those. I used a air impact gun to do my springs and look at the picture to see what I ended up with. BTW whcih way did the other side turn cause the side that is stuck should turn the same way if I am not mistaken.

 

[FuNwaGoN]

btw good luck

 

[MP5driva03]

thanks everybody, and I appreciate the good luck from funwagon, but to no avail. My stupid pal got pissed enough that he completely rounded the head of the bolt, so the impact wrench did nothing but spin, with no grip. Oh well.

 

[saided18]

i would say use an electric impact wrentch. They rock. they have just enough power to take off most bolts. To many times i have used my air impact gun and stripped nuts.


i don't know if you can do this, but if there is room take a big long pipe and slip it over the end of the socket wrench to make the handle longer. this trick works every time but need the room to move the pipe. good luck

 

[uclap5]

try getting some vice grips on it really really tight. then hammer the vice grips...

or you could get a grinder/ dremmel and try and cut it square and try again with a better fitting wrench.

just some ideas, i personally havent tried them for something that is as stubborn you describe it

 

[Jim Frye]

Some alternatives...

If this is a Bolt and Nut situation, you may be able to remove the nut and drive the bolt out. Use a drill and a bit as big in diameter as the nut is thick. Center punch one of the flats on the nut and drill it out until you drill into the bolt itself. This will let you take a cold chisel and split the nut and remove it.
Another tactic is to heat the nut (but not the bolt) with a propane torch (not red hot) to cause some differential expansion between the nut and the bolt. While the nut is still hot, hit it on the flats with a steel hammer (wear eye protection). This will set up shock waves in the steel that should help crack the corrosion between the bolt and nut.
Soak the bolt/nut contact area with penetrating oil or a product like "Liquid Wrench" . After a few minutes the oil will help break down the corrosion bond between the nut and bolt.
Uclap's suggestion of grinding new flats on the bolt head is good. An alternative is to cut the bolt head off or drill it and attempt to use an easy out to unscrew it. Jim

 

[FuNwaGoN]

hmmm well all of these are great suggestions. Tell you what I did to get the nut off that I have pictured above. I used a dremel to cut flat spots on 2 sides of the nut and then locked down a pair of vise grips and smacked it a few times with a hammer. Took about 30 minutes of taking the vice grips off and locking them back down about every 1/2 turn because of the space I was working in. Worst case scenario would just be to use a hack saw to cut the actual bolt and then just buy a new bolt and nut. Just make sure it is a bolt that can be relpaced easily.

 

[MP5driva03]

haha, well I tried most of the suggested in one form or another. I tried the vise-grips, even they lost hold and just tore up the bolt head. I tried filing down the flat sides to make them flat again, but it took too damn long. The nut, however, is welded to the fork in the coilover assembly, so that ain't coming off. I dunno guys, all suggestions are great, and I think yall have still given me a few new ones to try...

...thanks again!

Chandler

 

[DeanSweet]

Last bolt I had isssues with was on the front caliper mount bolt on a 2000 Grand Am. I used a very small 'plubers wrench' or 'pipe wrench' and approx 30 minutes of my time to finally get it loosened up. The picture of the one above is way worse but the idea he came up with to get it removed is very commendable. You could always take a dremel with smal cutoff wheel and make two perpendicular lines down the side opposite and bascially cut the nut in half? Try not to cut the bolt itself too much but considering how close the threads to the bolt and the nut are cutting into them would not hurt too much? If all else fails..

 

[DBR]

the impact wrench you use with a hammer is/was popular for using on motorcycles to bang the nuts tight, and then bang them loose. otherwise the engine vibration would loosen them in normal driving. looks kinda like a heavy screw driver, and when you hit the end with a hammer, it turns the screw/nut slightly , one way or the other, either jamming it tight or lose.

in canada, there's a hardware store called canadian tire that is selling some kind of wrench socket, made of hard steel that is made to cut into a rounded, seized nut and break it loose. they say it's made just for them, but i'd guess sears, craftsman, etc proabaly have the same thing in the USA. looks like a good tool to have around.