Figured out a rusted bolt trick on my old F150 that saved me 3 hours

I was stuck on a lower control arm bolt on my 1998 F150 for two days. Tried PB Blaster, heat, and a breaker bar but nothing worked. Then I grabbed a candle from the kitchen, heated the bolt with a torch, and let the wax melt into the threads. The wax worked like a lubricant and it came loose with a normal ratchet. Has anyone else tried wax on stubborn bolts or is there a better trick out there?

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sethr113mo ago

Oh wow, I heard wax works great because it gets pulled deep into the threads by the heat.

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walker.andrew3mo ago

Hold up a second. Wax is great for heat wicking, but it ain't really a lubricant. It's more of a wicking agent. The heat pulls the melted wax deep into the threads, and when it cools it cracks the rust seal. Works because of capillary action, not because it reduces friction. Try Kroil or a 50/50 ATF and acetone mix next time if you want actual penetrating oil.

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