FAIL

[Dynamic Entry]

I have been trying to pull the suspension off my parts car and I don't have a real breaker bar so I wasn't able to crack the strut-to-knuckle bolts.

So I figured I'd do stuff right and I bought a compressor and an impact wrench.

It failed to break the strut bolts free. Even though I soaked the bolts with LiquidWrench a week ago and again today.
I was able to loosen the rear axle nuts, even with me forgetting to straighten out that kink..... but it wouldn't break the front ones.

It's not a heavy duty compressor but it is 2HP, 5gallon twin-tank and makes 100psi.

Is this compressor really so weak? Could the nuts be rusted solid?
Am I missing something?

[evolutionmovement]

Big breaker with an extension pipe. Some nuts/bolts like rapid vibration, others like a powerful steady force. Some like a torch.

[jamal]

yeah, even with shop air and a decent gun I still end up having to use a breaker bar occasionally.

[Dynamic Entry]

the things I don't know.

my train of thought: "well it's 2008, we went to the moon a long time ago, we probably have machines that mean we can say goodbye to using a seven foot extension to loosen a little bolt on my simple little car"

damn it. I bought this thing second hand so I can't take it back. I guess it's still useful, I am just choked that I am back at square one.

[evolutionmovement]

They're still handy and there are plenty of awesome air tools and they're much cheaper than inferior battery versions. Your compressor might be small for some things that use lots of air, but the air gun comes in handy even for just taking wheels on and off. I always consider it good if I don't need to use a torch. I spent a day with another guy in a cramped engine bay of a boat torching off the exhaust manifolds on two big blocks. Had to work using mirrors to see and contorting ourselves around the engines. Melted two mirrors.

There are few things I consider almost never to be a waste to buy and tools are at the top. You can usually sell them for what you paid to close to it, as well.

[93forestpearl]

I've got air and a decent impact in my garage and I still resort to the 4' cheater pipe once in a while. Like the big rear lateral link bolt.

[ciper]

Harbor Freight has a ONE INCH drive ratchet that has to be the best breaker bar I have ever purchased. The biggest advantage it has is that it is "infinitely" indexable meaning it can fit in some odd positions.

I put a 5 foot pipe on the end of its 18 inch handle and JUMPED on the end multiple times to get an axle nut off. I put a slight bow in the solid 1 inch diameter handle but it worked.

[Saskatoon Subaru]

most air tools need 90psi constant air or there pretty much useless

[Legacy777]

Flow is probably as important as pressure. The stock pressure regulator and tiny air hose really restrict air flow. I removed the stock regulator. Look at the system and make sure you don't have any major restrictions anywhere.