Removing Head Bolts

[Buzzard Wing]

They are great tools Rudi.... but I highly recommend you liberally Kroil prior to breaking out the bold outs.

I needed it for one of the bolts on the front hubs on the Kia (found 4wd didn't work when the snow was over the bumper, highways were closed AND I was 50 miles from home.... bad vacuum seal). Was a long time since I had driven a rear wheel drive without a posi rear end.... scary.

Although it is a great tool... be warned that it will (may) ruin the bolt head and may just make it easier to break it off where it will be even harder to remove.

I would be a shade tree mechanic..... except I have a garage!

Larry

[Dan England]

Larry: I have twisted the bolt head off a couple of times when using my set. In each case, I was able to switch to a smaller one, grasp the stem of the bolt and remove it. That works well if sufficient stem protrudes to allow a smaller bolt-out to get a firm grip on it. Dan

[Buzzard Wing]

Yep Dan, I think they are great, and that is a good tip. Either Kroil is a miracle product or I was lucky with the 50... did not break a single bolt. Mostly because I know what it takes to get a broken one out now, so I was pretty careful.

[beaconlight]

Buzzard Wing
Yes Head bolts are special and it is reccommended that new ones be used each time. That said I don't know any one that does replace them every time a head is off.
Bet I catch it on this one.

Bill

[cowboy]

Head bolts are supposed to have a certan amout of Strech in them. I do not change them unless they have been reused two dozen times or they are badly rusted and pitted.

Billy