Need help Crawford AOS install
 

I decided to install my Crawford AOS today.

Everything was going along just fine and I was finally at the point where I had to remove the 3 bolts from the AC compressor.

The first two came off fine. I used a breaker bar and 14mm socket.

The last bolt which is in a cramped area in the back would not come off. It's almost as if it were stripped even before I touched it. The same socket I used to take the first two nuts off fit perfectly over the third but it was not catching when turning counter-clockwise.

I tried using a breaker bar, socket wrench, pliers, and more and couldn't get the thing off. I was pissed. I wanted to get a nut off lol

Basically, I had to put everything back the way it was before the install. I did leave the AOS where it was mounted without connecting any of the tubing.

I installed my STi Flexible Strut Tower Brace while I was in there otherwise the day would have been a complete waste.

Does anyone have any suggestions or have/had the same problem?

theres a video on how to install the AOS on youtube if you type in crawford air oil it should pop up. i cant link it right now since im on my phone but maybe thatll help you out? goodluck!

Thanks :) I appreciate the help. I used that video for the install but I encountered a problem.

Make sure you're using 6pt. sockets and if the bolt is too tight, use some penetrating oil like PB Blaster and let it sit overnight and then try again.

Mine was tight but I used a 10 inch extension with a 3/8 inch drive socket with no cheater bar. Can't remember how hard it was to break free but I got it off on my first attempt.

I hope you'll be OK loosening that bolt

I so wanna know if the STI bar fits fine with this AOS

Ngabdala, let us know how the rest of the install goes. I'm still waiting to install my AOS and it helps to know what other issues might pop up. Hope you can get that sucker off.

It's a very easy install. It's just that damn nut! Install would have been done once the nut came out. I would have just needed to connect two more hoses, one beneath the ac compressor and the last on the intake and then put car back together. That's what pissed me off :)

Wow, that IS annoying. Good to know it's otherwise pretty easy to do, I'll probably take a shot at it this weekend.

You will be fine. I seem to be the only person with the issue. Going to give it a try again but use a longer extension to my breaker bar or wrench. I'm going to try a 10" extension from Craftsman that was $10. I hope the added leverage is going to help. Although the socket fit, it wasn't gripping enough on that particular nut. It works fine on the other nuts.

I'm staying optimistic. :party0030:

Whatever you do, try NOT to round off the head of that bolt.

:thumbsup:

I'm ordering a new bolt to replace it before I go back in

That's a good choice. :)

Glad to see that some people still do things the right way. Have you tried using an extractor like these?

http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_im...18Kz06JJwL.jpg

I picked up a cheap set from a parts store a couple years ago and there have been a couple times that I thought I was going to be drilling bolts, and these worked great.

-Zach