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My dad always said to soak a seized bolt in ATF and acetone, not just WD-40
Tbh, I brushed it off for years thinking any penetrant would do the job. Then I got a 2004 Silverado with a rusted caliper bracket bolt last spring. I sprayed it with my usual stuff for three days and it wouldn't budge. I was about to drill it out and remembered his mix. I made a 50/50 blend in a little jar and let it sit overnight. The next morning, it came loose with just a regular wrench, no heat or breaker bar needed. I've used it on exhaust manifold studs and old suspension parts since. It really does work better. What's your go-to trick for frozen hardware that actually works?
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derek_brown286mo ago
Saw a video where a guy swore by heating the bolt first, then hitting it with penetrant. The quick temp change breaks the rust seal.
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benlewis5mo ago
Friend of mine tried that on a seized tractor bolt last fall. He got it cherry red, sprayed it, and it didn't just break loose - it shot out like a cannonball across the barn. @elizabeth220 would have called it a miracle, but mostly he just scared the cat.
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elizabeth2206mo ago
Oh man, that sounds like a science experiment gone wrong in the garage! Next he'll tell us to chant ancient rust-removal spells while tapping it with a copper hammer. I'm just gonna stick with my can of PB Blaster and a lot of angry muttering.
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