Re: Plugs and Wires sounds easy huh?? Take Two

Well I read this whole thread (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=900519) and did not find the solution that I discovered. This was one of the few times when losing my temper worked.

Like everyone else, the rear boots would not come off. I am very experienced with changing plugs and have very strong hands and I could not pull the wire boots off the plugs. The original problem of course was the awkward position one is in when trying to pull the boots off. I could not get pliers on the boots effectively and eventually pulled one of the wires off the boot leaving the boot on the plug. So, resigned to having to change the plug wires too I decided there was no reason to not get mad and just break off the plugs.

I took a carpenters 12 inch pry bar put it on the top of the plug with the boot that I pulled the wire off of and gave it a good whack with a hammer. The plug broke off as expected which left me with the broken plug and boot separated from the bottom of the plug. I did this with the other two plugs where I had good wires attached. Plugs broke off easily and the plug wires were actually not damaged.

Then I unscrewed the bottom half of the plugs and put in new plugs and new plug wires. With the boots and top half of the plugs off of the car, I was able to use pliers and get better grip on things and get them apart, although even that was a hard pull.

I recommend this procedure highly. I believe it can be applied without damaging the plug wires which I would have reused had I not broken one of them in the traditional try at getting the wires off. Now I would not spend more than 5 minutes on the back plugs before going again to this method.

Please read our guidelines Posting in Closed or Outdated Threads - LeSabre (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=635166) I started a new thread for you with a link to the old thread. We appreciate your corporation.
BTW, when you broke the plugs off, are you sure, none of the ceramic insulator fragments didn’t fall around the remaining part of the plug? It they do and when you remove the plugs, you risk the possibility of those fragments finding their way into the cylinder. (Some can be quite large) For that reason, this recommendation should not turn into a standard procedure for removing the rear plugs/wires. :shakehead

Thats a good point about the broken ceramic. I guess it would be best to use an air gun to blow the hole areas out BEFORE you remove the bottom half of the plugs from the threaded holes.

I recently did my plugs and wires and had to break 2 of the back ones off. I still have bruises on my forearms from wrestling with those critters.

Thats a good point about the broken ceramic. I guess it would be best to use an air gun to blow the hole areas out BEFORE you remove the bottom half of the plugs from the threaded holes.

I recently did my plugs and wires and had to break 2 of the back ones off. I still have bruises on my forearms from wrestling with those critters.
Thanks Hapynzap for the additional comments & recommendations . The use of air may be an option, however, when using an air gun to blow broken ceramic fragments, you should be very careful, these are sharp objects and harder than glass. I would never use that procedure without proper protective gear. i.e. gloves, face shield & arm protectors. I knew a guy who did the exact same thing, and a piece of the ceramic blew out of the hole and lodged deep into his face, 1/2 in from his eye, which required surgery to remove. Not a pleasant experience for him! :disappoin

I'm going to try using dielectric grease & see if that helps the boots come off easier.