Socket stuck on crankshaft bolt

[PureLeaf]

Hey guys,

So I bought a brand new set of sunex shallow impact sockets to do a timing belt job on a 04 Toyota Tundra for a family member. Job went well, except one thing. I put my impact gun w/ the new 24mm socket onto the crank bolt and impact it off, and the socket was stuck to the bolt. Smacked it a few times with a hammer, nothing. Figured it'll loosen once I put it back on.

So did the water pump and timing belt, put the crank bolt back on and tighten it, and it was still stuck. Impacted it tight and loose a few times to try and knock it off, nothing. Hit it with a hammer, tried to pry it off, grabbed onto it with vise grips. It will not come off. So for now the truck is running great, it just has a socket stuck to it for the next mechanic who does a timing belt on it.

Any recommendations on how to get it off? I've never had this happen quite to this extent with any socket before. Its really stuck.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Put extension in it and hit it for leverage to pop it off

 

[otis66]

Put the socket in a vise. Slide a punch through the square drive back of socket and tap the bolt off of socket.

 

[JBradley500]

I'd put a long extension on it and work that around by hand. It should come off.

 

[abvw]

Remove the bolt, punch the bolt out of the socket and reinstall with a different socket.

I've done plenty of timing belts on those MZFE, don't ever recall a 24mm...

 

[PureLeaf]

Its a 2UZ-FE 4.7l V8.

I'll try the extension, Not sure about the vise option, because if I remove the bolt and take off the socket, I'd have to use the socket again to put the bolt back on.. and presumably it'll get stuck again.

Appreciate the recommendations!

 

[Squankum]

Heat?



.

 

[Banshee365]

Uhm, are 2UZ crank bolts not 22mm anymore?

 

[rlitman]

Not sure about the vise option, because if I remove the bolt and take off the socket, I'd have to use the socket again to put the bolt back on.. and presumably it'll get stuck again.

Not if you (emphasis mine)

Remove the bolt, punch the bolt out of the socket and reinstall with a different socket.

Though, I'd probably get a replacement bolt from the dealer before removing your socket. Put in the replacement bolt (with the CORRECT socket), and toss the one you messed up once you punch it out of the socket. Then consider getting your socket replaced (look it over closely before putting it back in the drawer).

Oh, and don't put the socket IN the vise. Open the vise jaws so that they will allow the bolt to pass through, but still support the rim of the socket. Then put the socket ON the vise. Press plates would do this trick about as well too. Or you might even be able to use the next larger socket.

 

[wolftrucking]

The impact was too high and basically cold forged the socket to the fastener. Use a breaker bar and a PROPANE torch to warm the socket. Too hot to touch but not red hot and rock the socket back and forth. it will come off.
You might want to consider removing the bolt and make sure the bolt wasn't twisted or necked out.

 

[afbrian13]

...and don't install the crank bolt with an impact. Use a torque wrench, steady even pressure, and the socket won't get stuck.

 

[saulvg99]

Put extension in it and hit it for leverage to pop it off

This. [emoji106]

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[Marc Benjamin]

You got a slide hammer or some other kind of puller that can grab the inside of a 1/2 socket?

or (if there's anyway to grab the lip)

How about taking the bolt and socket off, place it on the vise or a bigger socket just to hold the lip (if there's anyway to grab the lip), stick a big punch through the drive and tap the bolt down/off.

 

[Skin]

...and don't install the crank bolt with an impact. Use a torque wrench, steady even pressure, and the socket won't get stuck.

Not always feasible if you don't have the proper holder. Socket got stuck because the OP was using the wrong size. Loose sockets rotate the corners of the fastener into the flats and it gets stuck there pretty well.

 

[TheEuronater]

This same thing happening to me when doing the suspension overhaul on my Mk4. Never did get the bolt out of the socket, but if I had a torch I would use heat.

 

[andys]

I agree that it was most likely a 22mm bolt with a 24mm socket now wedged on it. I recommend heat from an inductive heater because there are too many fragile parts near the bolt to be waving a torch around, especially with it all assembled.

No matter what, you need to get the socket off ASAP before it launches itself into something like the radiator or fan and ruins something important far, far away from home.

 

[Skin]

If it were me I would of zipped it back off and went to the hardware store for something temporary, or the dealer if they had one in stock. As stated if it pops loose driving that could be a real bad day.

 

[F124C]

Any chance you could use a concrete anchor bolt ('Rawbolt') in the socket square drive hole to jack it off the crank bolt?

Al.

 

[F124C]

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No matter what, you need to get the socket off ASAP before it launches itself into something like the radiator or fan and ruins something important far, far away from home.

Too right!

Plus you'll lose your socket.

Al.

 

[fivespdcat]

I'm also thinking you should not be reusing a crank bolt generally they are stretched when you torque then apply an angle.

 

[dudutzu905]

definitely a 22mm bolt head, now with at 24mm socket stuck to it
there is no room to do anything to it/with it in the car, take it out and go at it, in the worst case just order a new crank bolt and keep the old one for memories...

 

[rexer]

definitely a 22mm bolt head, now with at 24mm socket stuck to it
there is no room to do anything to it/with it in the car, take it out and go at it, in the worst case just order a new crank bolt and keep the old one for memories...

Don't run the engine, because if comes flying off and go thru the radiator that would be a lot more $ than just a new bolt &washer...

 

[MrGiggles]

I would think that a guy could rock it loose with a breaker bar. Sometimes it's hard to get them to snap loose with an impact, since you can't stop it fast enough and it wedges in the other direction.

It may be wise to go ahead and remove it and replace the bolt, since it's partially rounded and may screw you over when you try to take it off next time.

 

[firworks]

I agree that it was most likely a 22mm bolt with a 24mm socket now wedged on it. I recommend heat from an inductive heater because there are too many fragile parts near the bolt to be waving a torch around, especially with it all assembled.

No matter what, you need to get the socket off ASAP before it launches itself into something like the radiator or fan and ruins something important far, far away from home.

How did you wedge a larger socket onto a smaller bolt? I could see going the other way and hammering a smaller socket onto a larger bolt. Also why can't you just slowly pry the socket off if the bolts already seated or at least partially seated? Maybe back the crank bolt out a bit so it's still engaged but you've got room and then stick a small pry bar in and work the socket off. Not that I'm advocating just prying away like the hulk against your crankshaft pulley but maybe you can get some motion with a light touch?

 

[Rlfd213]

Put the socket on the ground And hit it with a hammer. Or put the socket in a vise and use a punch and hammer to drive it out. Nuts and bolts do get stuck sometimes so this isn't an uncommon issue.

 

[andys]

How did you wedge a larger socket onto a smaller bolt? I could see going the other way and hammering a smaller socket onto a larger bolt. Also why can't you just slowly pry the socket off if the bolts already seated or at least partially seated? Maybe back the crank bolt out a bit so it's still engaged but you've got room and then stick a small pry bar in and work the socket off. Not that I'm advocating just prying away like the hulk against your crankshaft pulley but maybe you can get some motion with a light touch?

They get wedged when the flats of the too-large socket get caught on the corners of the fastener. Trust me, I've put plenty of 21mm sockets on 19mm lugnuts by mistake and realize what I've done when there's a horrible noise and the socket slows down.

He can't pry this one off because it's recessed in the crank pulley and being an impact socket (I think), it's too substantial to wiggle loose with the type of tool that would be able to fit in that space.

 

[andys]

I'm also thinking you should not be reusing a crank bolt generally they are stretched when you torque then apply an angle.

I've yet to run across a Toyota that does this but they are probably out there and are certainly used in every area of a vehicle. The bolt in question here has a torque or 180 lb-ft or so, if I recall correctly.

 

[jerseykat1]

i think it should be a 22mm Toyota doesn't typically use 24mm.. its a 24mm on the PS pump banjo bolt but thats about it.

put a breaker bar on the socket. prop it up against the frame of the car or something that wont break under a lot of force, then bump the starter with the key. This is how i get the crank bolt loose on cars where i cant't fit my impact gun in there. It should have come loose when you tightened the crank. You may need to tighten the crank more.

 

[jerseykat1]

you can also try an air hammer.

 

[wafrederick]

...and don't install the crank bolt with an impact. Use a torque wrench, steady even pressure, and the socket won't get stuck.

Some of the crank pulley bolts are one use only also.Kia is this way including GM.