Flywheel bolts won't come off

[A62TURBO]

I was able to get one off with the cordless impact wrench but the other 7 won't budge. Is heating them up an option or do I need a more powerful impact gun? I can't get the engine on the stand until the damn flywheel comes off.

[Austonwerner4]

More power. Mine took an air impact.

[A62TURBO]

That sux. I thought atleast I would get the engine off the hoist and on the stand today.

[domantas]

I wouldn't heat anything you could damage the rear seal, most people replace those with a clutch swap anyways. Try holding the crank from the front with the extention bar and use another bar to break them loose. My girlfriend was holding the front while I was undoing the bolts, so with that said you should be able to do it with a bud. And DONT strip any bolts...

[A62TURBO]

I was able to jam the one bolt I got out in back of the flywheel to lock it up, the problem is that the engine is hanging from the cherry picker and it keeps wobbling around. I guess the safest would be a super powerful impact gun. Anyone in the area wanna come by for a beer with their impact gun? Lol

[s4silver1]

Lower the engine close to the ground where you can put a ratchet/socket on the crank bolt. Wedge it against the floor. Get yourself a half inch ratchet or breaker bar and put a long pipe over it for leverage. This makes it much easier to turn and easier to keep it steady so you don't strip anything. They are tight so it will take some muscle.

[A62TURBO]

Honestly, I don't see myself getting those bolts off without a powerful impact gun.

[s4silver1]

I got mine off without one. A long breaker bar makes life alot easier. You'd surprised what a little torque can do.

[A62TURBO]

Would I get more hold of the bolt using a 12 point bit or should I just keep trying with the 17mm hex?

[s2the4]

Would I get more hold of the bolt using a 12 point bit or should I just keep trying with the 17mm hex?

Don't use a 12pt bit that will strip faster than you can say stage 3. Impact gun is what you are going to want to use with an appropriate hex 17mm socket.

[A62TURBO]

Thanks for the advice, I gotta get my hands on one now.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

use a breaker bar without an extension... it will come right off...

[ziobronz]

Use a breaker bar with something for leverage, like the bar you use for your jack. Shouldn't need to much for them to break free.

[A62TURBO]

OK I'll go buy a 5 foot pipe and a 1/2" 17mm socket later and give it a shot before buying a compressor and impact gun. Wish me luck.

[julex]

That will do. Leverage is the key! With a 2 foot long pipe slipped over a solid ratchet you can break free or just plain break it in half, any bolt on our car. They only bolt you'd need longer extension for is the CV axle bolt and that's only for tightening it. 5ft for that sucker to stretch it with desired amount of degrees.

[A62TURBO]

Almost got the job done today, cut up arm and 3 almost stripped bolts left. I got 4 more bolts off today with the breaker bar but the last 3 won't budge, my good friend brought by his 18 volt 1/2 cordless impact driver and still nothing. I'm gonna buy a compressor tomorrow and he's gonna bring by his heavy duty 1/2" air impact gun, if that doesn't work then we'll get to work with the cut off wheel. How frustrating this is!

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Have a spare tire laying around? Set the engine on the tire so its not wobbling around. Have a friend stabilize the engine so it doesn't fall or tip over. Use an impact socket, a breaker bar, and a long pipe.

Make sure the socket is on there well and have at it. You'll need a pretty serious impact gun to remove those even the 1/2 may not be enough unless it has serious reverse torque.

Good luck!

Jason

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Almost got the job done today, cut up arm and 3 almost stripped bolts left. I got 4 more bolts off today with the breaker bar but the last 3 won't budge, my good friend brought by his 18 volt 1/2 cordless impact driver and still nothing. I'm gonna buy a compressor tomorrow and he's gonna bring by his heavy duty 1/2" air impact gun, if that doesn't work then we'll get to work with the cut off wheel. How frustrating this is!

If you can't get them loose w/ a breaker bar you're bar is not long enough...

lol @ the electric impact gun... and just so you know, unless it's a really good pneumatic gun it still might not come off with it.

Trust me when I say the best bet by far is a breaker bar, get one that is 6-8 feet long and they will come right off without you breaking a sweat

[A62TURBO]

I'm at the point where if they don't come off today, I'm just gonna cut the heads off. What do you guys think?

[NOTORIOUS VR]

I'm at the point where if they don't come off today, I'm just gonna cut the heads off. What do you guys think?

NO! WTF... you will never get the parts in the crank out... they use loctite

just get a long pipe like we've all been telling you

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

NO! WTF... you will never get the parts in the crank out... they use loctite

just get a long pipe like we've all been telling you

^^ THIS!!

Jason

[JonathanG]

I made the mistake of heating flywheel bolts. Don't do it!

[A62TURBO]

NO! WTF... you will never get the parts in the crank out... they use loctite

just get a long pipe like we've all been telling you

I got the others out with a a long ass pipe, these last three are really jammed in there. Another problem is the bolts are rounding off at the edges and the socket doesn't want to stay on, I'm gonna have to figure out a way to put force on the bolt so it doesn't slip off while I turn it with the pipe.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

I got the others out with a a long ass pipe, these last three are really jammed in there. Another problem is the bolts are rounding off at the edges and the socket doesn't want to stay on, I'm gonna have to figure out a way to put force on the bolt so it doesn't slip off while I turn it with the pipe.

If you can't do it, get help.

You NEED to lock the flywheel in place... I used a tranny bolt on one of the bottom holes using 2 nuts and then put a spanner wrench on it and one of the flywheel/pressure plate dowels...

Then get someone to hold the motor and the ratchet in place while you crack it loose. If the shit is rocking around and moving you will never get the TQ to the bolt... so if you can't seem to do it properly on your own, get someone to help you. There is no reason this should be difficult when done right.

Heat is NOT an option either. You never want o heat the bolt itself it will only expand and in this instance it will not help you anyway.

I know there is a learning curve here, but if you're unsure about something just stop what you're doing completely and get someone that knows what they're doing to help you or do it for you.

[qship]

I had to drill out the heads to get mine out thanks to overtorqueing by the previous owner/mechanic. They did unscrew easily after they were drilled out.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

I got the others out with a a long ass pipe, these last three are really jammed in there. Another problem is the bolts are rounding off at the edges and the socket doesn't want to stay on, I'm gonna have to figure out a way to put force on the bolt so it doesn't slip off while I turn it with the pipe.

They make a socket called an "easy out" which bites into stripped bolts. These are a must have for situations like this.

Jason

[A62TURBO]

If you can't do it, get help.

You NEED to lock the flywheel in place... I used a tranny bolt on one of the bottom holes using 2 nuts and then put a spanner wrench on it and one of the flywheel/pressure plate dowels...

Then get someone to hold the motor and the ratchet in place while you crack it loose. If the shit is rocking around and moving you will never get the TQ to the bolt... so if you can't seem to do it properly on your own, get someone to help you. There is no reason this should be difficult when done right.

Heat is NOT an option either. You never want o heat the bolt itself it will only expand and in this instance it will not help you anyway.

I know there is a learning curve here, but if you're unsure about something just stop what you're doing completely and get someone that knows what they're doing to help you or do it for you.

This doesn't have anything to do with skill level or learning curves, the bolts have just been waaaaaay over torqued by the guy that did my 6 speed swap last year.

Thanks for the "easy out" option Jason, I'm gonna look into that.

[fshowcars]

holy cow bro! 12pts and electric impacts... lol

dude that said strip faster than you can say stage 3... LOL!!

i'm with dudes... get a reverse easy out... it'll gouge into the heads and pull it out... buy craftsman, get them on STRAIGHT and tap with a hammer... first twist will bite into the bolt, then extract.

[A62TURBO]

holy cow bro! 12pts and electric impacts... lol

dude that said strip faster than you can say stage 3... LOL!!

i'm with dudes... get a reverse easy out... it'll gouge into the heads and pull it out... buy craftsman, get them on STRAIGHT and tap with a hammer... first twist will bite into the bolt, then extract.

Thanks man, that sounds like a great idea.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

This doesn't have anything to do with skill level or learning curves, the bolts have just been waaaaaay over torqued by the guy that did my 6 speed swap last year.

Thanks for the "easy out" option Jason, I'm gonna look into that.

It has everything to do with skill level, regardless.. the TQ on the bolts is VERY high when done right... I almost gave myself a hernia while stretching the new bolts.

Good luck!

[Jsmooth65]

It has everything to do with skill level, regardless.. the TQ on the bolts is VERY high when done right... I almost gave myself a hernia while stretching the new bolts.

Good luck!

When putting that extra stretch on, I remember thinking "wow, this can't be right" but lo and behold, its right.

[Sole_]

It has everything to do with skill level, regardless.. the TQ on the bolts is VERY high when done right... I almost gave myself a hernia while stretching the new bolts.

Good luck!

Lmao best comment.

[A62TURBO]

A little update, couldn't catch the bolts for shit. They just rounded off so I picked up an angle grinder and a few discs from home depot. It took me about half an hour to get the three bolt heads off but it worked like a charm. I was a little worried about getting the actual screw out afterwards but they came off by hand very easily.

[Jsmooth65]

ahhh the sweet taste of victory

[julex]

AWesome. I hate when little things like this throw you a major show stopper. I hope you have a new FW as the current one doesn't look too good after the grinder treatment :)

[A62TURBO]

AWesome. I hate when little things like this throw you a major show stopper. I hope you have a new FW as the current one doesn't look too good after the grinder treatment :)

Yeah I have new FW and bolts, what a shame because this one was in great shape. Oh well!

[MCsquared]

should have just welded a nut to the end of them...

[A62TURBO]

should have just welded a nut to the end of them...

I don't have an air compressor in my garage, what makes you think I would have a welder? Lol

[bugsbunny]

If you new what you were doing, it would have been done in 5 min. Next time call me to help you. this is a funny thread. I'm pretty sure your car won't be done anytime soon, especially if you are the head wrencher/mechanic. It is a given with your skills, you will probably break many parts while trying to fix your car. Good luck

[DiscoPotato]

^FAW

And yes the required torque on those bolts is retarded.. Make sure you have a breaker bar with a cheat bar when you reinstall them.