Originally Posted by Däs Schmoo
If you can't get it off with an air ratchet or with a breaker bar while the car is in 5th gear and someone on the brakes, you can take it to a shop and have them loosen it and then retorque it enough to get you home.
Thanks for that advice. I tried several times with a strap wrench and I was unable to break the bolt loose until I read the 5th gear trick
- Sprayed PB Blaster on it the night before.
- Placed the car in 5th gear.
- Wedged the 2 feet long jack handle between the brake pedal and the bottom of the seat (steel part of the seat) which placed pressure on the brake pedal.
- Placed a strap wrench on the balancer and it wedged itself against the axle.
- Placed a breaker bar on the bolt and it broke loose with my foot.
The strap wrench did not work without the 5th gear trick. I think the combination of wrench and the 5th gear trick did it.
Thanks,
Kevin