Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**General23cmp** · 09-10-2016, 02:39 PM

71-72 seat. Two Phillips head screws on each side attaching seat bottom to seat back. Any advice on how to get these to break loose? I'm on my third seat, and have drilled out the past two after ruining the Phillips head. Let them soak with WD40 and banged with hammer to break stuff free...no luck. Thanks.

**70STOVEBOLT** · 09-10-2016, 05:00 PM

Maybe a little heat from a propane torch.

**Stocker** · 09-10-2016, 05:03 PM

Try an impact driver. Whack it with a hammer and it tries to turn the screw at the same time the force of the hammer hits it. Also, put the WD40 on the shelf and use penetrating fluid instead.

**General23cmp** · 09-10-2016, 05:12 PM

Thanks. That metal is so soft, it's easy to mess the head up.

**jeffahart** · 09-10-2016, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by General23cmp

Thanks. That metal is so soft, it's easy to mess the head up.

I would give the impact driver a shot. If you have one. Kind of a lost art I guess.

saxart · 09-10-2016, 08:50 PM

I just pulled two of these apart today. They must use some sort of liquid thread-locker on the threads of those. They were impossible to move. The minute I heated them with a torch, they came right out, but you could feel the thread-locker start to thicken up again as they cooled down, so more heat again.

Bottom line, don't drill them out, just use a torch on the nut from the backside.

**General23cmp** · 09-10-2016, 09:13 PM

Thanks. One of my issues is finding a Phillips head that fits it just right. I've tried probably 10 different ones and none get a good bite on it. They're just begging me to strip the head out. One set I actually drilled a hole through the threads so I could get a hardened rod through them (like the letter T) and still couldn't get them to budge until cherry red hot. They're a bear.

*randy500* · 09-10-2016, 09:50 PM

I use a 3/8 air impact and they come right out. You have to have the right bit though. Going out now to find the size for you.

*randy500* · 09-10-2016, 09:58 PM

Ok, I just checked and its a Phillips number 4 that fits it. I have used the hand impact but that just breaks it loose. Use air or an electric driver impact, I have been using my dewalt 20v 1/4" bit impact, you know the kind people use for decks and stuff, just get a 1/4 or 3/8 adapter for it and find the correct Phillips 4 driver socket.

**General23cmp** · 09-10-2016, 09:58 PM

Thanks. Here's the sizes I have...too big, big, medium, too small...ha.

**General23cmp** · 09-10-2016, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by General23cmp

Thanks. Here's the sizes I have...too big, big, medium, too small...ha.

But hey, they were probably the best screwdrivers that Walmart had.

toolboxchev · 09-10-2016, 11:24 PM

Here is my solution to rusty stuff:

PB Blaster Penetrating Lubricant, I use a mini torch after letting the PB soak for a while. Repeat this process, PB, Heat, Cool, PB, Whack with the impact driver. Most of your manual impact drivers come with a couple of good bits.

Repeat process until its loose. It has yet to fail me. If necessary I break out the slightly bigger torch that a plumber uses with the green coleman can of propane. Use cold running water to impart a shock to the metal, this part can be important on the real stubborn stuff.

I had an old farm implement to repair once and after being frustrated many times the boss said to use the acetylene torch to heat it instead with a 3/4 inch large air impact driver on a rather large bolt.

On my 4th try after getting it glowing red then spraying it with the hose multiple times then using the PB it came loose.

That process is almost guaranteed to break any rusted nut and bolt loose.

09-10-2016, 02:39 PM	#1
General23cmp Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Athens, AL Posts: 358	Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws 71-72 seat. Two Phillips head screws on each side attaching seat bottom to seat back. Any advice on how to get these to break loose? I'm on my third seat, and have drilled out the past two after ruining the Phillips head. Let them soak with WD40 and banged with hammer to break stuff free...no luck. Thanks.

09-10-2016, 05:00 PM	#2
70STOVEBOLT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Winona Lake, IN Posts: 6,266	Re: Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws Maybe a little heat from a propane torch. __________________ 70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Power windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear

09-10-2016, 05:03 PM	#3
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,594	Re: Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws Try an impact driver. Whack it with a hammer and it tries to turn the screw at the same time the force of the hammer hits it. Also, put the WD40 on the shelf and use penetrating fluid instead. __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

09-10-2016, 05:12 PM	#4
General23cmp Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Athens, AL Posts: 358	Re: Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws Thanks. That metal is so soft, it's easy to mess the head up.

09-10-2016, 08:50 PM	#6
saxart Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: St. Croix River Valley, WI Posts: 795	Re: Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws I just pulled two of these apart today. They must use some sort of liquid thread-locker on the threads of those. They were impossible to move. The minute I heated them with a torch, they came right out, but you could feel the thread-locker start to thicken up again as they cooled down, so more heat again. Bottom line, don't drill them out, just use a torch on the nut from the backside. __________________ Meet "Old Roy": http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=707801

09-10-2016, 09:13 PM	#7
General23cmp Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Athens, AL Posts: 358	Re: Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws Thanks. One of my issues is finding a Phillips head that fits it just right. I've tried probably 10 different ones and none get a good bite on it. They're just begging me to strip the head out. One set I actually drilled a hole through the threads so I could get a hardened rod through them (like the letter T) and still couldn't get them to budge until cherry red hot. They're a bear.

09-10-2016, 09:50 PM	#8
randy500 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 6,873	Re: Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws I use a 3/8 air impact and they come right out. You have to have the right bit though. Going out now to find the size for you.

09-10-2016, 09:58 PM	#9
randy500 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 6,873	Re: Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws Ok, I just checked and its a Phillips number 4 that fits it. I have used the hand impact but that just breaks it loose. Use air or an electric driver impact, I have been using my dewalt 20v 1/4" bit impact, you know the kind people use for decks and stuff, just get a 1/4 or 3/8 adapter for it and find the correct Phillips 4 driver socket.

09-10-2016, 11:24 PM	#12
toolboxchev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road. Posts: 2,629	Re: Advice on loosening seat back-to-bottom screws Here is my solution to rusty stuff: PB Blaster Penetrating Lubricant, I use a mini torch after letting the PB soak for a while. Repeat this process, PB, Heat, Cool, PB, Whack with the impact driver. Most of your manual impact drivers come with a couple of good bits. Repeat process until its loose. It has yet to fail me. If necessary I break out the slightly bigger torch that a plumber uses with the green coleman can of propane. Use cold running water to impart a shock to the metal, this part can be important on the real stubborn stuff. I had an old farm implement to repair once and after being frustrated many times the boss said to use the acetylene torch to heat it instead with a 3/4 inch large air impact driver on a rather large bolt. On my 4th try after getting it glowing red then spraying it with the hose multiple times then using the PB it came loose. That process is almost guaranteed to break any rusted nut and bolt loose.



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