Trying to remove starter - can't break bolts loose - suggestions?
 

I'm trying to remove my starter and have the car on jack stands in the garage but can't seem to get the damn bolts to budge.

I used a standard ratchet with every bit of force I can muster, soaked them in PB Blaster, and even tried a breaker bar, though there isn't enough clearance to take advantage of the torque that a breaker bar provides.

Any thoughts or suggestions before I have AAA tow this mother effer to the shop?

Only other thing you can do is take a torch to it to help break the bolt free

That might work with the lower bolt, but the upper bolt has wires nearby and it's a bitch to reach. Might be kinda risky, but worth a shot...

Tried additional dosing of PB Blaster and the torch. Bolts have no rust on them but won't budge. Guess they're over-torqued and I'm gonna have to pay someone to fix it. Damn.

Do you have an air compressor? Have you tried a
1/2" impact with a short socket?

Unfortunately, the answers are No and No. :(

If you can't undo those using a standard 1/2" drive socket and breaker bar there is something wrong .

Have you stripped the heads of the bolts ?

They aren't stripped. The breaker bar doesn't really work because I don't have enough clearance to make use of it. The thing is just on your run of the mill jack stands.

These bolts aren't reverse threaded are they?

Maybe try your local auto parts store for a rental impact. They make some decent electric ones now.

You are talking about getting it towed but can't spend a little time getting it up high enough so you can use the right tool for the job .........................


No

I tried another couple wrenches I've got and now the bolt head is starting to strip. Whoever put this thing in must have over-torqued the crap out of it.

These jacks don't go a helluva lot higher.

I had the breaker bar on there and tried using whatever force I could, even hitting the damn thing with a hammer, but no dice. Drenching the bolts in PB Blaster isn't helping either.

I'm worried that if I keep trying, I'm going to strip the bolt head too much and be completely screwed.

Just swapped out my starter 2 days ago. Try this:
For that upper-hidden bolt, use a long extension on a ratchet. I then wedged a block of wood against the ratchet head so it wouldn't move so much laterally. Once that was nice and snug, I just beat the long end of the ratchet with my palm until it broke loose.

also, that upper bolt (of the 2) is accessible from both sides. If you're starting to strip it, try the other end.

I've tried the upper bolt a couple times but have been going to town on the bottom bolt. That one's the SOB right now. I'm not even going to bother with the top one until I can get the bottom one to break loose.

ok try this- on that bottom one- I've seen it done on big trailer repairs to loosen some mean shit. Take a hammer and give the head a few SOLID whacks dead straight so it doesn't mess up the shape. If you hit it hard and straight it should break the thread "weld" loose on the inside and help you.

Go and buy yourself a 1/2" hexagonal socket - the ones the same shape as the bolt head . You can put way more torque on one of those without stripping the bolt head

1/2" is too small. The only bits that fit are 14mm or 9/16".

I meant 1/2" drive ;)

I just tried the breaker bar and wedging a piece of 2x4 against it. With my back against the garage wall, I pressed the 2x4 with my feet and the thing didn't move one iota. Was worth a shot though. :)

Good call. I'll try that tomorrow. At this point, I've exhausted just about every existing option.

I jacked the car up as high as I can get it and took another stab at using the breaker bar. Bastard bolt didn't budge.

Out of sheer anger, I've smacked the thing more than a few times with a couple different wrenches. I'll try straight on with a hammer and see if it helps. At this point, I can't make it much worse. :sad:

This is nuts ........................are you 100% sure you are turning it the right way - anticlockwise?

Ha... yes, 100% sure I'm turning it the correct way. I even tried rocking the bolt clockwise just to make sure I wasn't losing my mind! It doesn't move at all.