Body mount bolt help – popping, but would rather avoid crackle and snap

[TxSmitty]

One of mine is cross threaded from PO. It's about 3/4" from in with the washer and rubber sitting on the head. When I hit a bump the washer rattles on the bolt head. My impact wont tighten or remove it. I put some padding on the washer to stop the rattle. I'm going to take it to a local shop and see if they can get it tight or off. Looking at the bolt head the PO was at the verge of sheering it smooth.

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[John in the Woods]

One of mine is cross threaded from PO. It's about 3/4" from in with the washer and rubber sitting on the head. When I hit a bump the washer rattles on the bolt head. My impact wont tighten or remove it. I put some padding on the washer to stop the rattle. I'm going to take it to a local shop and see if they can get it tight or off. Looking at the bolt head the PO was at the verge of sheering it smooth.

Good luck, and if they have a trick for getting it to move, please pass along.

 

[John in the Woods]

Dealer just got back to me with a quote of $199 to break them all loose and reinstall with anti-seize. He said he'll add $50 for any that break and have to be drilled out. I'm thinking of taking him up on it, just for the peace of mind.

 

[John in the Woods]

Before I toss a few bucks at the dealer, hey @Northridge4x4 folks, any thoughts on getting these bolts out?

Tech Tim did the video on installing the ARB sliders, and I picked them up from your guys a month or so back. A great deal and stellar turnaround, as always, and I'm absolutely looking forward to having these beasts protecting my truck. Can you offer any advice on the body bolt snag on my install? I'm betting you've seen the "popping" issue before.

 

[Tech Tim]

Before I toss a few bucks at the dealer, hey @Northridge4x4 folks, any thoughts on getting these bolts out?

Tech Tim did the video on installing the ARB sliders, and I picked them up from your guys a month or so back. A great deal and stellar turnaround, as always, and I'm absolutely looking forward to having these beasts protecting my truck. Can you offer any advice on the body bolt snag on my install? I'm betting you've seen the "popping" issue before.

I'll always try them by hand, little at a time, turn out, turn back in, dry, no heat to begin with. About 1/2 of the time, the body bolts will come out pretty easy.

When you get a bolt that is chattering, the bolt threads are grabbing, spin it back 1/4 to half turn the other way and continue working it in and out.

If all that fails we bring the heat. Propane torch, warm the bolt, wait, warm the bolt, wait. Work it slow, eventually it will come.

A year or so ago we invested in a Bolt-Buster tool. It makes short work of heating the body bolts, though it is a little much for the home DIYer to invest in for a home tool.

 

[John in the Woods]

I'll always try them by hand, little at a time, turn out, turn back in, dry, no heat to begin with. About 1/2 of the time, the body bolts will come out pretty easy.

When you get a bolt that is chattering, the bolt threads are grabbing, spin it back 1/4 to half turn the other way and continue working it in and out.

If all that fails we bring the heat. Propane torch, warm the bolt, wait, warm the bolt, wait. Work it slow, eventually it will come.

A year or so ago we invested in a Bolt-Buster tool. It makes short work of heating the body bolts, though it is a little much for the home DIYer to invest in for a home tool.

Thanks. I’m going to give this another shot, before retreating to the dealer. I’d rather do it myself, and know that I can anytime I need to.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

 

[bleda2002]

Thanks. I’m going to give this another shot, before retreating to the dealer. I’d rather do it myself, and know that I can anytime I need to.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

How'd it turn out?

 

[EmmittFitzhume]

I installed those Rock Hard sliders a month ago without heat. It was a crazy PITA, but I went super slow back and forth. Tighten it a couple degrees and loosen a couple degrees. Don't "go for it" until you really feel it starting to move back and forth. If I felt resistance, I went back the other way. Some came out without a ton of difficulty, but a 3-4 took a long time. Even after I got the body bolts out the holes in the pinch weld didn't quite line up with the slider mounted bolts and I had to drill them out as well.

I was so nervous because I was on FB group and a guy told me he snapped one doing the same thing and it cost him $1000 to get fixed. I love the sliders, but if I had to do it again I would probably pay the $200 if I had that offer from the dealer.

Lastly, if anyone wants to buy some Mopar tubular steps in New England let me know.

 

[John in the Woods]

How'd it turn out?

Just got in from the garage. Pulled together the advice from several folks here, and went and rewatched the @Northridge4x4 video. The great news is I got all six out by hand at home. I pulled them, anti-seized the heck out of them, and torqued them back in. Now I just need to get my buddy back over here to help me handle these monsters and I'll get them installed.

The keys for me were patience and position, and both came from everyone here.

I didn't go to the torch on any of them, and never even thought about the impact driver. I went slow, super slow where needed, reversed whenever things seemed nearly impossible, and learned not to fear what Tech Tim called "chattering" and I was afraid was a bolt or nut weld about to snap.

For position, the first time I went at this I was either on my back under the rig, or kneeling next to it. Both were uncomfortable and limited me to what my arms could do (which ain't what it used to be). In the video, I saw Tim sitting next to the truck, letting his shoulders and back do some work. As soon as I did that, it felt easier to move them and I felt much more control over the pace.

Thanks to all for the help, and i hope this helps the next person. I'll get a few shots of the step/sliders up here once they're installed, and then I'll go see if I can scratch them up.

 

[John in the Woods]

Just to cap this conversation, I'll note the sliders are on! Once they were loose the body bolts game me no problems at all. A long, slow install (including 36 new holes on the side of my cab) but I like the look and the rock-solid feel.

I'll toss more on my build thread in a bit. Just wanted to thank everyone here again for helping me land this.

 

[XraytecH]

I recently installed Rockslide Engineering Step Sliders and yes those 6 bolts were a bitch to back out.

- Torch the head of the bolts for a good minute
- 40" Long Breaker Bar
- Back and forth a quarter turn to clear out the threads
- Torch the heads again
- Back and forth again
- Torch the heads again
- Back and forth again
- Once I got the bolts kinda free I muscled them out with a ratchet

 

[heftysmurf]

Just to cap this conversation, I'll note the sliders are on! Once they were loose the body bolts game me no problems at all. A long, slow install (including 36 new holes on the side of my cab) but I like the look and the rock-solid feel.

I'll toss more on my build thread in a bit. Just wanted to thank everyone here again for helping me land this.

Ha! You DRILLED a pristine body for the body plates and concerned about body bolts?!

When I did the GenRights on my JKU, the body was the most painful wrestling the nutserts til I got the hang of them. I'll admit, it took a LONG time pulling the 6 on the JT just doing the 1/2" out, 1/4" in while the beads of sweat formed on my brow -- but, I was successful!

By the way, those sliders look super rad! Glad you got them sorted.

 

[Partysub]

I recently installed Rockslide Engineering Step Sliders and yes those 6 bolts were a bitch to back out.

- Torch the head of the bolts for a good minute
- 40" Long Breaker Bar
- Back and forth a quarter turn to clear out the threads
- Torch the heads again
- Back and forth again
- Torch the heads again
- Back and forth again
- Once I got the bolts kinda free I muscled them out with a ratchet

This was basically my process to get those bolts off for my ace sliders except I used a head gun instead of a torch. All the reading I did on forums had me sweating hard and I actually threw in the towel after about 30 minutes. I decided to give it another try the next day and this process worked perfectly and I was done in an hour

 

[John in the Woods]

Ha! You DRILLED a pristine body for the body plates and concerned about body bolts?!

Yeah. Definitely one of those "no way back from here" moments.

 

[John in the Woods]

This was basically my process to get those bolts off for my ace sliders except I used a head gun instead of a torch. All the reading I did on forums had me sweating hard and I actually threw in the towel after about 30 minutes. I decided to give it another try the next day and this process worked perfectly and I was done in an hour

Amen. I did the same thing. I heard that snapping sound, had the horror stories in my head, and gave up. Some good advice here, and I went back in with more patience and a better body position, and the bolts proved entirely manageable. Glad I did.

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