Started using a $12 heat gun from Harbor Freight to loosen rusted bolts and now I feel dumb for fighting them with PB Blaster for so long

Lucas Henderson · 2026-10-15T13:20:05.693225+00:00

I was trying to pull the rear control arms off a 2002 Civic I bought for $600 and those bolts were fused solid. A guy at the pick and pull in Fontana told me to stop soaking everything in penetrating oil and just heat the bolt head for 30 seconds with a cheap heat gun. I grabbed one for $12 with a coupon and tried it on the lower bolt. It came loose with a breaker bar in about two minutes. The upper bolt took a little longer but still way less fight than before. Now I keep that heat gun in my trunk next to the jack. Does anyone else use heat on suspension stuff or am I risking cooking the bushings?

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Started using a $12 heat gun from Harbor Freight to loosen rusted bolts and now I feel dumb for fighting them with PB Blaster for so long | Car Mod Budget Builds - Rigidtalk