Round nut in frame spinning

[elkon]

Went to remove 2 bolts on the frame for skid installation and the bolt got ~ 1/4 inch out and now its spinning. It seems like there is a round nut inside the frame thats loose or something. Going to see if I can scrounge some small angled vise grips but wanted to see if anyone has advice on getting these bolts in / out .

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[Labswine]

Dunno, but I've seen a few loose nuts behind the wheel ???????????

 

[elkon]

They probably also need a better grip ?

 

[Badunit]

If all else fails, you have 1/4" of room to get a sawzall or hacksaw or maybe a cutting wheel on the bolt.

 

[Lunentucker]

Watching a couple of skid plate installation videos, it appears that it's either a weld that let loose or a nutsert/rivet that spun out.

 

[JTenn]

I had to remove the transfer case skid last week to replace the drivers side exhaust manifold gasket. Hit the exhaust hard enough it tweaked the gasket. Anyway, I noticed the bolts have red loc tight on them from the factory. My impact grunted the whole way removing them. If you broke the nut loose, good luck holding it with vice grips.

 

[Not2Late]

Went to remove 2 bolts on the frame for skid installation and the bolt got ~ 1/4 inch out and now its spinning. It seems like there is a round nut inside the frame thats loose or something. Going to see if I can scrounge some small angled vise grips but wanted to see if anyone has advice on getting these bolts in / out .

You are in a tough spot for sure. If the bolt is spinning, that suggests that the nut (which is spot welded to the frame?) may have broken loose. Can you push the bolt up/in thereby taking up the slack as you do? Maybe a good rap from a small sledge will help if it is hanging on a bit. If this pushes the bolt/nut up, then I would try to cut the bolt right under the nut on the back (crossmember) side. Then you'll just have to use a new bolt and regular nut when you put it back. It will suck trying to hold the new nut in place with a wrench as you tighten the bolt. But, hopefully this won't be something you would remove often.

I you simply cut the bolt head off, things will be a lot worse...

 

[KQL]

Can you perhaps sneak a box wrench into the nut inside the crossmember and let the crossmember opening be the leverage you need to keep the nut from spinning? I.e., get the wrench onto the nut and let the wrench rest against the crossmember opening while you keep unscrewing the bolt?

 

[bd100]

Maybe purchase a sacrificial wrench to bend at the appropriate point. It'd become your dedicated skid plate wrench.

 

[elkon]

good info that you saw lock tite. I tried a few things today but it’s bound on the nut pretty solid. The nuts also very smooth and round. I was able to partially tighten it back but will see what else may work. Will update once I have a chance to mess with it more.

 

[Charles 236]

Jeep loves red Locktite on frame and body mount bolts. I would recommend heating the fasteners before loosening them to prevent the nuts from breaking loose from the frame. I have had the same experience as you did, and I ended up cutting the bolt and removing the nut from the frame. I replaced the nut with a loose nut in the frame, held it with a flex head wrench to tighten it. I didn't use red Locktite going back together, I was happy with blue Locktite for reassembly.

 

[Pilsner]

Maybe purchase a sacrificial wrench to bend at the appropriate point. It'd become your dedicated skid plate wrench.

Have done this. $8 wrench from the auto store. Heat and bend.

 

[Puch]

I had this happen on the same crossmember, different bolt. It was the one that is almost directly below the exhaust pipe hanger. If I remember correctly, it was a nutsert. I ended up cutting it off the bracket and then used a hole saw to cut out the nut with the rest of the bolt. Yes, this leaves a hole that is as big as the nut. The crossmemder has a hole directly above that hole which allowed me to put a long bolt that went all the way through the cross member and then I was able to put a nut on the top.
For the record, I have a 2020 sport S. Don’t know if that will make a difference.

 

[legacy_etu]

Looks like you could get in there and tack weld the nut back to the frame. That’s what I’d try first then try Again. If that still didn’t work, I‘d borrow an induction heater to heat the bolt and try again.

 

[Lunentucker]

Have done this. $8 wrench from the auto store. Heat and bend.

The nut is ROUND & SMOOTH

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