Suspension: 70: Suspension front struts and bushes V70 T5 1999

[rudi dudi]

Don't ever bother with the droplinks just put a grinder straight through them.

[Clogs]

Job is now done. I have to say that WD40 doesn't do the job to release rusty bolts. Undoing one side was very hard requiring a lot of leverage. I went on the internet and found the acetone/automatic transmission fluid (50:50) mix has been found to work pretty much as well as the best available products. So brushed this on the bolts on the other side and they undid without much effort. The reason is that acetone changes rust (FeO) to FeC... ferrous carbide which is brittle and its chemical bond with iron (Fe) is much weaker than rust - which is ferrous oxide.

ATF is also very thin and seeps into gaps that other oils won't reach. Plus this solution is cheaper than a tin of WD40 because I've already got ATF for power steering and just had to buy a tin of acetone from marine chandlers (it dissolves resin used for fibreglass which is used on small boats a lot). It seems unavailable from other hardware stores, though nail varnish remover is mainly acetone available at prices per ml ten times that when you buy a tin of the stuff.

[Luxobarge]

Originally Posted by Clogs

I have to say that WD40 doesn't do the job to release rusty bolts.

Couldn't agree more. WD40 is a Water Dispersant (and quite good at that job) - that's what the WD stands for. In spite of the manufacturer's marketing gumph that it's great for so many other things, actually it isn't particularly good as either a lubricant or a penetrating oil, and why should it be? Sorry about the rant, WD40 being put up as a cure for all ills is a pet hate of mine - use the right stuff for the job!