Broken body mount bolts?

[SoCalGladiator]

Get this...I installed my ACE rock sliders, all went well until the last bolt, driver side rear. The bolt didn't break, but the retaining nut moved out of position so now I can not thread the bolt back in. The space is too small to get fingers or a tool there to hold the nut in place. Any ideas or help would be appreciated. @JeepCares

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[Renegade]

Get this...I installed my ACE rock sliders, all went well until the last bolt, driver side rear. The bolt didn't break, but the retaining nut moved out of position so now I can not thread the bolt back in. The space is too small to get fingers or a tool there to hold the nut in place. Any ideas or help would be appreciated. @JeepCares

A magnetic tool might pull it into place.

 

[SoCalGladiator]

The isolator is too round and big, no way to mount it back up and keep a magnet on there, tried. Good idea though, thanks.

 

[hjdca]

Maybe, get a metal rod with smaller diameter than the bolt and push it through the nut to try to recenter it ?

 

[SoCalGladiator]

that did recenter the nut, but as soon as the bolt touches the nut, it moves to the side again. I have an email to Nick at ACE and see what they say.

 

[hjdca]

that did recenter the nut, but as soon as the bolt touches the nut, it moves to the side again. I have an email to Nick at ACE and see what they say.

make a "self-guided" bolt ? That would require that you grind down the front of the bolt and make it thinner, then, make sure the threads are correct so that they easily catch the threads once the bolt is through..... You would have to spend some time on it and test it with a nut....

Note: This is a known issue. Other members had this problem and the dealer fixed it for free under warranty. I believe the fix was to open the other side an re-weld the nut. So, if you do not want to mess with it, our information in this forum is that the dealer will fix it.

 

[SoCalGladiator]

Awesome information hjdca. Do you happen to have a link handy to this other thread showing that fix? I think that is the best way to fix it. I would like to have some ammo about getting the dealer to do the work under warranty if I can say, "the dealership in xyz town fixed this under warranty.

 

[wanderer]

Funny haha ace sliders are nice but the instructions and video are seriously misleading. My bolts drivers side middle and rear both nuts broke loose since it was going to the dealer any way. See winch mouny woes I had them do it. Would have been nice if ace had explained this in their instruction video. THEy must’ve known

 

[BrentMG]

I just installed my rock hard sliders tonight. I used a heat gun on all the bolts for a few minutes and used a breaker bar taking my time. Fairly simple other than the rear passenger one. Spent probably an hour messing with it. I finally grabbed a rag, put all my weight into and it dropped. Just heat them up and take your time using small turns.

 

[hjdca]

I just installed my rock hard sliders tonight. I used a heat gun on all the bolts for a few minutes and used a breaker bar taking my time. Fairly simple other than the rear passenger one. Spent probably an hour messing with it. I finally grabbed a rag, put all my weight into and it dropped. Just heat them up and take your time using small turns.

I just did mine last night also ! I only got one side done with the armor. I put my torch at the lowest possible setting and did 10 seconds on and 1 min off for 3 times. Then, 1/4 turn loosen, and 1/8 turn tighten for a while to clear the threads. Super slow for a while. I did not have any problems, but, it is nerve racking. I definitely think it is VERY important to use heat.

 

[GoVR46]

Heat is the key. But I didn't want to use a torch because of the rubber around. Used a induction heater instead. Heats only the metal bolt, burns away any loctite.

 

[NavyAustin]

The most work and worry I've ever put into 6 bolts EVER!

I watched the Ace videos, and the first bold (driver's side middle body mount) went slowly - the pull down on the washer advice was golden.

The driver's side rear scared me - it was freewheeling at a point, came to the forum and started reading about broken welds. Yikes! But then tried to put it back in, and it seemed to bite - so I needed to pull down. Once I did that, it came out.

While on the forum, I read about the heat, and was going to get my propane torch when I remembered my daughter gave my wife a butane chef's torch for Christmas. Heated directly on the bolt for about 30 seconds, and while still slow, helped greatly.

I think the back and forth advice is good - help break up the Loctite. The residue I saw looked blue, not red (2020 Rubicon) so maybe they switched.

Getting them on and torqued to 80 ft-lb was no problem.

 

[AggieGladiator2015]

totally managed to bust my driver's side rear bolt this past weekend didnt see the advice of heating up the bolts first, the other 5 were easy..enough.

 

[EstoJTR]

Heat is definitely your friend. I used the Bernzomatic Map-Pro torch when I installed my rails, and even with heat the rear passenger one didn't want to come out, had to heat it for quite a while several times before it yielded. I believe I had red loctite on the rears and blue on the middle and front bolts. Broke a retainer clip all the way out pulling one rear bolt out, and a couple didn't want to go back in because the nuts were loose, but after some persuasion they grabbed and threaded back in. Definitely a PITA.

 

[Coastal]

totally managed to bust my driver's side rear bolt this past weekend didnt see the advice of heating up the bolts first, the other 5 were easy..enough.

Did you get this fixed? Were you able to get this covered under warranty?

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