Removing the crankshaft bolt

[Thomas, Tom]

*	What is the conventional wisdom of using an impact driver to get
that nut > off?

I use an impact to take it off and put it on.  There are a few things that
need to happen for this to work good.  The impact MUST be a good quality
(Snap-On or better, the Craftsmen will not usually work).  You must remove
the center sheetmetal section between the bumper mounts.  (Just break the
welds on both sides, this makes your car so much easier to work on)  An
impact usually won't work if you use an extension on the socket (absorbs too
much torque).  The hoses I use for the air compressor are of the high-flow
variety (larger inside diameter, I think, and a slightly different
attachment unit on the end of the hose).  Oil the gun before you use it
(with air-tool oil).  You need a good sized air compressor with a fairly
high output.

Using all these together, I have yet to find a crankshaft bolt that could
not be easily loosened.  Now I must admit that all this stuff is at my
brothers shop and makes it easy.  I have done it several time the hard way -
5 foot bar, in gear, with someone pushing the brake pedal through the floor.
This seems like it is soooooo hard on the motor/tranny mounts, drivetrain,
etc. - so the impact is much nicer.  HTH!        


Tom E Thomas
Data Network Engineer | Project Manager
BadgerNet | BNS | DTM | DOA | State of Wisconsin
tom.thomas at doa.state.wi.us

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