What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

djheath · Post by **djheath** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 11:57 am

Whilst I was replacing the rear droplinks for the first time on my 406 yesterday, I was getting very frustrated that the rusted nut was just spinning the ball joint in the droplink and I couldn't get it off. Even with mole grips holding the ball joint spindle, it was still spinning. Space was very limited and I only have a 125 mm grinder so couldn't get that in there. Hack saw was too big too and with brake and fuel lines around that area I didn't want to get too medieval on it!

I am curious what others use to get stubborn nuts off? Are those nut splitter things any good? Or is there a small dremel type device that can be used to cut the bolts?

I eventually got the nut off by pure perseverance and constant tightening of the mole grips, but it wasn't fun!

Post by **Bailes1992** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:03 pm

Use the grinder and grind the nut off rather than cutting it

Post by **teamster1975** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:07 pm

If you've got access to a gas torch it works wonders on stubborn fixings.
I had the same problem as yourself with the droplinks and used the mole grips method; I do have some nut splitters but haven't had cause to use them yet!

ally406 · Post by **ally406** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:09 pm

I did exactly the same job recently, and unfortunately they were the allen key type which quickly rounded at the end. I cut the top nut off with the angle grinder, but as you say space is limited for the lower one. I drilled that one out down the middle, didn't take too long. Thankfully the replacements have the grooves for the spanner so shouldn't be a problem next time.

djheath · Post by **djheath** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 1:43 pm

Ok, interesting.

I have used my grinder before to get nuts off, but find I just chew up the surrounding metal as well as the nut, as the grinder is just too big! think I need to invest in a dremmel or similar and some small grinding discs.

sirwiggum · Post by **sirwiggum** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 1:51 pm

Is a drill any use?

Drill into them and then drill the other way?

djheath · Post by **djheath** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 4:14 pm

Do you mean drill into the sides of the nut, or just drill the bolt out?

sirwiggum · Post by **sirwiggum** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:45 pm

djheath wrote:Do you mean drill into the sides of the nut, or just drill the bolt out?

Left hand drill bits (as in, not left handed drills, but drill bits that go the other way). Drill in, and it should catch. If it doesn't, try the next biggest size. If that doesn't, drill the fecker out and then use a tapper to recreate the thread.

ally406 · Post by **ally406** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:18 pm

I just used a normal drill to drill out down the middle of the nut, I think a 10mm bit will do it.

406oc.co.uk

What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

Re: What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

Re: What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

Re: What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

Re: What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

Re: What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

Re: What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

Re: What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?

Re: What do you use to cut stubborn bolts and nuts?