Top Five Ways to Break Loose a Fastener - Hagerty

[BlackBart]

https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenan ... 1134a7530b

First, I never use Level 5 with an open end wrench. I rarely touch them.

Second, I don't see the Abscate Smoke Wrench technique until the comments below.

Something I realize is that I never think of a bit of loosening, tighten again, loosen again, in stages. That's smart. You're just trying to break the bond of the rust or corrosion. However, recently I had some fasteners that through galvanic corrosion had essentially become one with the threads of the bracket they were in. I ended up drilling them out and re-tapping.

[volvolugnut]

I had hoped this link would be for the things you do after Level #1 but before breaking the bolt. Things like thread lubricants and heat.
volvolugnut

[abscate]

I think it is a bit tongue in cheek. Releasing Stuck fasteners is rarely done by more torque , as rust bonding quickly exceeds the strength of standard hardware, in which case it just breaks

If it’s a through bolt, like the bolts holding the spindle on the strut, snap them off with the biggest breaker you have, since you are using the new ones Volvo shipped you with your strut, right?

If it’s a water pump bolt, you just lost your weekend to a horrible drill out job.

I am a big fan of applying heat to fasteners I don’t want to drill out, 30 seconds at a time, with 3-4 heat cool cycles. For about $50 you can get a oxy MAPP torch with a hot pinpoint flame that lets you heat in tight corners