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Snapped an exhaust bolt on a 2011 Silverado and almost turned a 2 hour job into a 2 day one
Heat cycling had welded that flange bolt in place, so I stopped cranking and hit it with PB Blaster plus a torch for 15 minutes before trying again. What is your go to move when a bolt starts to feel like it is going to twist off instead of break loose?
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tara3453d ago
Torching it for 15 min is way overkill and you got lucky the flange gasket didn't cook. Heat makes the metal swell, sure, but on an exhaust bolt it also softens the bolt head and now you're stripping it instead of snapping it. PB Blaster plus a torch can actually flash fire if you're not careful, and on a 2011 Silverado those manifolds have heat shields right there. Real answer is a good 6 point impact socket and a long breaker bar with steady pressure, feel it stretch before it pops and back off. Heat is a last resort, not your first move, and 15 minutes is just asking for trouble.
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