Bolt stuck on PS rack

This 19mm bolt is stuck on. I tried Blaster fluid twice, and a DCF891B impact 3 hours later with 800 ftlb breakaway on high setting and full battery. It's probably never been removed. Loosening other bolts with my impact was no problem, including the same 19mm nut and bolt on the other side of the steering rack that was probably on for 27 years too.

The nut is on top. Pics attached. It ought to be easier to loosen the nut than the bolt, but stuff is in the way, no room for socket wrench. My next idea is buy a 19mm line wrench and a huge pipe extension. I don't have a torch, and I'm leery of the heat damaging the PS fluid lines

I also just sprayed it with an acetone / PS fluid mix which I heard might work better, and packed it up for the night.

What do you think?

 

Have you tired a 19mm six point socket and a long breaker bar?
Impacts are nice, but they don't always work.
Especially if there is a bushing absorbing the impacts.

 

Might need a breaker bar with a pipe as a handle extension. I've found that will be way more powerful than any electric or air impact wrench.

 

Are you soaking it with penetrating fluid from the top? I’d shock it with a hammer from the bottom as well while soaking it if you don’t need your truck on the road soon and do that for awhile. I don’t think some heat would hit the rack especially if you have an inductive bolt tool.

x3 on the 6 point and breaker bar - I thought I read you had used one but reread and saw it didn’t mention one.

 

If you are working under the truck while it's on jack stands, be aware you can exert so much force it is possible to shift the truck off the jack stands. Make sure you have adequate safety precautions taken.

 

Agreed - just put the tires back on if the suspensions still on for safety. Then it won’t fall all the way down.

 

Do you have a T-bar lug wrench with 19mm?

Do you have any vehicles with 19mm wheel lugs? Grab the tire changing equipment out of the trunk and use that

 

Ok, I'll see about getting a pipe extension for my breaker bar, and a sledge hammer.

I did shoot the penetrating fluid all over the top nut and threads.

The tires and suspension are still on. The tie rod on the passenger side moved enough to let me detach the rack's D bushing, and I hope I can pull this one away similarly.

 

You could also hold the breaker bar in place with a ratchet strap and whale on it with a heavy mallet / give it some kicks with you shoulders braced against something solid. Ratchet straps stand in nicely for a helper for the solo diy'er.

 

You have a little micro torch.....that and watch the pb blaster boiling out...

soak and repeat.....


since the heat.....I've never rounded anything off......and there have been some ONES.......



Also you might try to break it forward, and then back it out...

 

Just don't break the head off the bolt

 

Put heat on that bolt to break it free

 

Get a box end wrench or socket on the top nut and loosen up there first. Is it welded on?

 

It’s a nutsert in the steering rack crossmember.

 

When I changed my rack bushings a couple years ago I think I had to use a long breaker bar with a couple feet of pipe on the end of it, wedging my shoulder up against the side of the truck, reaching underneath and pulling with all I had to get that one loose. Slow steady pressure to avoid snapping the bolt.

 

The lower nut is welded and you need to remove it from the top.

 

On these older Trucks no telling what your going to find. Welded nuts replaced with a Bolt and nut are common .

Why are you removing the Rack ?

Breaking the fluid lines is always my first step. Next getting the steering shaft loose.

A 6 point socket breaker bar in needed a pipe. I have had breaker bars fail before the fastner broke loose on lower quality tools . Protect your hands from impact damage .

Not having a Torch makes it some what harder.

Good Luck.

 

He's right you know. The bolt goes from top to bottom and you are trying to loosen a welded nut instead of loosening the bolt.

 

Seems to me it was installed the wrong way prior. Unless it is designed to go from either direction, mine dropped in from the top down....

No one else caught that huh?

*edit maybe his design is different. Seems to be different somewhat with the bracket.

 

Looking at your picture compared to his I looked at his profile which says he has a 5lug. I know the 5lugs use a different steering rack, so it is possible that it mounts differently. The crossmember definitely looks different, but my manual doesn't show the rack for a 5lug so I'm not sure if the bolt still goes through top to bottom or if the 5lug actually mounts differently and does go bottom to top.