Stubborn bolts are the bane of professional mechanics and DIYers alike. You’ll find all types of bolts on a vehicle, and they won’t always come off easily, especially if they’re rusted from exposure to the elements. If you really need to get those bolts off for a project, consider purchasing a breaker bar.
What Is a Breaker Bar?
Breaker bars are large, long, solid bars that can break bolts loose. Wielding a breaker bar gives you the ability to apply large amounts of force onto stubborn bolts. It essentially increases your power by providing you with more leverage and thus more torque. The end of the breaker bar has a male attachment point that fits over a socket on a swivel. Once the socket goes over the bolt, you can apply as much force as you can on the handle. The socket attachment doesn’t have a ratcheting mechanism, meaning it wont shear the gear teeth.
Breaker Bar Types
Breaker bars come in two variants:
Ratchet Breaker Bar
Ratchet breaker bars have a ratcheting mechanism. It lets you rotate the socket in a single direction, applying increased torque to the nut or bolt at the end of the socket.
Handle Hinge Breaker Bar
Handle hinge breaker bars have a hinge at the handle’s center, which allows you to adjust the socket’s angle. This means they’re easier to handle in tight spaces.
How To Use a Breaker Bar
Breaker bar usage is pretty straightforward, but there are a few tips you should keep in mind:
Safety Precautions
When applying a lot of force on a stuck bolt or nut, you run the risk of injuring yourself if you don’t have the proper equipment. Wear gloves and eye protection in case anything goes flying. In addition, make sure you hold the breaker bar properly upright and secure so it doesn’t slip. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions for your breaker bar before using it, so you can be more familiar with how your particular model works.
Lubricant Use
The ideal scenario when using a breaker bar isn’t actually to break the bolt or nut. It’s best to remove the piece of hardware without snapping anything so that nothing gets stuck anywhere. Use lubricant or a lubricating oil on the bolt to reduce breakage risks before using your breaker bar.
Breaker Bar Socket Attachment
When slotting the breaker bar’s socket onto the nut or bolt, make sure it’s properly secure. It should be firm when you turn the bar, otherwise the socket might slip. Any slippage can damage the nut or bolt’s head, making removing the piece of hardware even harder than it already was.
Smooth Movements
When working with a breaker bar, try to use smooth motions to facilitate torque transfer. If you work fast and rough, it’ll increase the risk of breaking what you’re trying to fix. Rusty hardware is especially brittle, so take extra care when you’re trying to remove nuts or bolts that’ve been out in the elements for a while.
Breaker Bar Alternatives
If you don’t have a breaker bar on hand, you can use a pipe or a jack handle attached to a ratchet. The added handle length should help multiply torque, but it’s a pretty risky alternative. If anything slips or snaps in the middle of your work, it might injure you or damage your vehicle.
A breaker bar is definitely a handy tool you should keep around if you need to deal with stubborn nuts and bolts on the regular. Now that you know how a breaker bar works and how to use it, you might as well add it to your tool box.
Where to Get a New Breaker Bar
The breaker bar must have sufficient length and a male attachment point that snugly fits over the bolt’s head. Otherwise, you might not reach the stuck bolt or fail to break it free, forcing you to look for a different tool. Luckily, it’s easy to find the right breaker bar at CarParts.com.
CarParts.com makes shopping for breaker bars and other automotive products online straightforward. Plug in the name of the tool, part, or accessory you need in our website’s search bar. Our filters can tune the results to show only products that meet your criterion, such as selected brands and price ranges.
We exclusively source our products from brands trusted by drivers across the US, so rest assured that your new breaker bar will work as advertised. We also ship your new tools and parts to your doorstep–if you live in the US and send your order before noon ET, you can get your new breaker bar within several business days.
We carry a selection of reliable breaker bar tools at affordable prices. Choose abreaker bar that fits your budget and your vehicle’s unique requirements.
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