Sometimes it seems like a stuck bolt might never come loose. How long is reasonable to wait, after applying penetrating fluid, before trying?
Yesterday I was working on the brakes of a vehicle. Knowing that soon enough I’d have to replace the pads, I decided to loosen the caliper bolts, then tighten them back up. That way, when I would have to undo them next time, they (hopefully) wouldn’t be so hard to get loose.
In my experience, caliper bolts can be really tough to loosen. Yesterday I did manage to get each one loose, with some struggle.
A tried-and-true method, it seems, is to apply penetrating fluid to the stuck bolt, then wait before trying to loosen it. Yet, how long should one wait?
Apparently, a few hours to overnight can perhaps be reasonable to wait for penetrating fluid’s full effect.
Yesterday, I waited five to ten minutes. Did I end up working too hard simply from my lack of patience? I guess it’s something to think about, going forward:)
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