Tips for Removing Stuck Toilet Bolts
Easy Way
First try applying some penetrating oil such as WD40 to the bolts and allow the oil to loosen the rust and corrosion. If you are not in a rush do this a day prior to trying to remove the nuts and repeat sprayings the nut every few hours. With a little luck the oil will allow you to free the bolts with just a little bit of elbow grease.
Moderate Way
If penetrating oil did not work try using a drill and metal drill bits. Usually you can drill through the brass screw head using a small bit 3/32″. Drill only about 3/8″ to Ã?½ inch down to create a pilot hole. Then swap out the drill bit to a 3/16″ and drill down the pilot hole until you get through the screw head. Keep repeating this process with slightly larger drill bits and eventually the pilot hole will be the size of the screw head. Once you reach that point, take a pliers and hold onto the nut attached to the screw. Use a screw driver to gently pry up under the screw head until the screw breaks. The remainder of the bolt should fall out or you can remove it from underneath with the pliers.
Hard Way
If you do not have a drill, you can try cutting the bolt with a hacksaw. Slide the blade in between the seat and the bowl (or nut and bolt) being careful not to damage the porcelain.
High Tech Way
A high tech hacksaw approach is to use a Dremel tool with a small metal cutting wheel to cut the bolt in half.
You could crack the nut (if you can access it) using a specialty tool called a nut cracker. Basically a nut cracker splits the nut by adding pressure with a turning wheel. The nut is pressed against a point on the tool and the pressure breaks the nut.
You can also pick up a set of left hand drill bits to turn the bolt out. Be sure to secure the nut with a wrench or pliers and be careful not to drill too quickly. You also need to put the drill into reverse.
