Showerthought: I got a 2005 Civic's stuck caliper bolt out with a can of Coke and a breaker bar after 3 hours of fighting it.

The bolt was seized solid, so I soaked the threads in the soda for about 20 minutes, gave it a few taps, and it finally broke loose, saving me from having to drill it out. Has anyone else used a weird household item to get out of a mechanical jam?

3 comments

3 Comments

evancarter15h ago

I read somewhere that vinegar can work for rust too, but I've never tried it myself.

hayes.michael15h ago

Vinegar for rust sounds like a home remedy that barely works.

troy_king7213h ago

My old bike chain was a mess last summer, so I soaked it in white vinegar overnight. It actually took off most of the surface rust, but it left everything kind of dull and sticky. You still need to scrub it and oil it after, so it's not a magic fix.