Fuel Filter removal...

[PieEyedPiper]

I'm trying to change my fuel filter but I've tried all I can think of to get that top bolt off. I've set up pulleys and levers ( i know, sounds excessive..) and I sprayed it down with pb blaster, left it for 5 hours and I still cannot get this bolt to unscrew for the life of me.

I've been trying for a few days now, does anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Well Traveled]

There really isn't any other ideas. When I had my 97, I had a bunch of kids at automotive school try to get it off. Couldn't do it, so I never changed it, just sold the car.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

yeah, I'm gonna go outside and try again right now but if I dont get it off my tomorrow morning I'm going to cut it out.

Could someone please provide me a link or some information (even personal experiences) with relocation/replacing the stock fuel filter with a different setup. Preferrabley one that it less problematic

thanks!

 

[99gst_racer]

Just keep at it. It was the biggest PITA ever for me. I spent hours before I finally got mine loose. I know it's hard to get you hands in there let alone wrenches, but it is possible. Just keep trying. There really are no secrets as far as I know. Just try to be optimistic about it - at least once you get a new one on there, you'll probably never have to change it again....

 

[DSMShop]

ok heres what i did... i took a wrench and attached a Braker Bar to it.. and pushed away.. its gonna feel like your going to break the bolt off but it you put your weight into it the bolt will Come off with ease.. Good luck

 

[FourG63 97GST]

what you goin to cut? the filter in half? either way, I dont see cutting solving the problem.
btw have the tried breaking the bottom lose yet, the bottom was the pita for me.
as for the bolt, I guess you can buy an electric impact from home depot and return it when you're done.
fyi leave the filter bolted to the firewall till you get the lines lose.

 

[HighPsi92GST]

yes, dont unbolt it from the firewall until the lines are loose. Otherwise you will end up twisting them and breaking them off.

 

[RamenPride]

the bottom flare nut was the tougher one of the two to loosen. as mentioned previously, leave it bolted to the firewall and use a breaker bar on the top banjo bolt.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

thanks for the responses, but really, theres no room for a breaker bar in there..I have 3 diff sizes all were too big to fit well. I'll spray more pb blaster tonight before bed and try in the morning.

Obviously some of you have had luck with breaker bars, but I dont see it happening in my case. The biggest problem for me is I bent the housing - like the bolt shaped part of the neck that the banjo bolt screws into is now at a 45 degree angle. I'm not even sure how the bolt wont come loose under the stress it took to bend the neck..but its on there real good!

I'll keep trying, but I'm getting tired of removing my battery a couple times a day for everyday this week. The electric impact gun sounds like a good idea. Maybe I could take it to a shop and get them to pull it apart.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Module Unknown]

Yeah, that top bolt is ####. It fought me the whole way the first time I changed my fuel filter. What I finally ended up doing (after the bottom line was disconnected) was just disconnecting the fuel line from the fuel rail and pull the fuel filter with that fuel line attached. Once it's out of the car stick it in a vice, stand on it, crush the hell out of it to hold on to it (who cares you're replacing it), grab a breaker bar and get that damn bolt off. Much easier to do when it's off the car.

good luck.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Yeah, that top bolt is ####. It fought me the whole way the first time I changed my fuel filter. What I finally ended up doing (after the bottom line was disconnected) was just disconnecting the fuel line from the fuel rail and pull the fuel filter with that fuel line attached. Once it's out of the car stick it in a vice, stand on it, crush the hell out of it to hold on to it (who cares you're replacing it), grab a breaker bar and get that damn bolt off. Much easier to do when it's off the car.

good luck.

You're a frickin genius! Thats exactly what I'm going to do. Hopefully the bottom part comes off easily though, especially since you cant even see it. I'll have to look at my new filter to know what goes on under there.

But thats an awesome suggestion!
I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[HighPsi92GST]

breaker bar works with extensions/swivel sockets (if needed)

 

[skelly]

Is it in a different location on the 98 compared to the 1G? Mine was a sinch to get out. Just curious.

- SK

 

[RamenPride]

Is it in a different location on the 98 compared to the 1G? Mine was a sinch to get out. Just curious.

- SK

It's lower on the firewall compared to 1G

 

[LessIsMore]

Do yourself a favor and use a flare wrench on the bottom fitting(14mm). If you strip the line fitting you'll be in a world of pain.

 

[KJS1820]

Impact gun on the top! took mine off today

 

[mightymouse69]

just changed mine about 2 weeks ago and man do i know the pain that ur goin through.......this is what i did i removed the bolts from the firewall and moved the fuel line just a little to give me a little room to play with.......this next step will take 2 people.....my girlfriends step dad is mechanic so he got a part called a crows foot that we connected to the bolt on the fuel line(has the end of wrench but you can connect socket wrench to the end of it also) its a 14 mm.....then there is another bolt on the filter itself i believe it was a 18mm if not u can take the new one and size it up....once we had each wrench on properly we pulled seperate ways and it finally broke loose after that smooth sailing......hope this makes sense and hopes it helps give you another idea....once you get it off drink a cold one for me i know i did

 

[mightymouse69]

sorry the last reply was concering the bottom bolt top one was not to hard

 

[dave99gst]

This is how i end'd up with my SS line & -an fittings
i said screw it and cut all the stock lines out after stripping the crap out of the bolts
on the filter.