Cross threaded bold.

[tangobravo]

Hello, when installing the rugged ridge soft bed cover which utilized a hole and nut already on my Jeep I cross threaded the bolt to hold on the covers bracket. Prior to this I Rhino Lined my bed and there was a buildup of coating in the whole I figured I could push past with a little force, that bring is to here. I stripped the head of the bolt trying to get it out so I decided to cut it and maybe twist it with pliers. After that failed I cut the bolt flush and went to drilling the bolt out but man, I’ve created a mess. Any ideas on how to remove this bolt without ruining my bed liner or bed and further?

Tanner

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[HooliganActual]

Either use a Screw Extractor Tool (like EZ Out) or sometime you can have success using a reverse twist drill bit (which you run your drill in reverse with).

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

There are all kinds of things made for this, EZ out, left handed drills. Once it's flush like that you have limited removal options. Do a search, plenty of videos available. Nothing works in every situation. Center the bit perfectly in the bolt and drill straight. Be careful, don't snap off a drill bit or easy out inside the bolt, it gets way challenging after that. Lots of info, videos, and special tooling. Good luck.

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

@HooliganActual you beat me to it, I must have been typing when you posted.
Yeah, do what Hooligan said.

 

[Stonesolo]

You can also drill a hole and retap it.

 

[kevman65]

First, odds are it is not cross threaded. Probably filled the threads with bed liner, as you kept turning it in you created enough heat to melt it a little and then BOOM you hit a dead stop and it set back up.

As said, you need to carefully drill the dead center of the bolt. Get an EZ out (screw extractor) and carefully try to back it out. IF you get it out, use a bolt tap (6mm x 1.0 I believe) and slowly run it in and when it gets hard, back it all the way out to clear it and then back in.

IF you can't get the bolt out, you can drill it out to the drill size for a 6mm x 120 tap. If you go to Lowes, they carry the tap and drill bit in a kit.

Good luck.

 

[Troybilt]

I would also recommend putting a pice of wood or something between the bed and the cab when you are drilling it out. That will keep you from drilling through and catching your cab.

 

[Mark Doiron]

Do what TrouFishingInAmerica wrote about using an Easy-out suggested, especially that drill in the center and straight to avoid nicking the threads you're trying to screw into.

A couple random thoughts on how you got here and what you should have done differently: If the threaded hole had contamination, it's always a good idea to clean that out before screwing anything into it. Use a thread restorer, or failing to own a set, a tap. You said you used pliers in an attempt to get the bolt to turn. Vice-grips are your friend, in that case, not pliers. If this problem was caused by the bedliner, you may be able to soften things up with a heat gun. BTW, you can buy a spray can of bedliner at your local hardware store to touch up the area once you get it repaired. Finally, if you do muck up the threads on the hole, Heli-coils are your friend. They can be bought in sets for the size Heli-coil you need along with the correct drill bit and tap. There are other, more modern and similar options, but if you search on that term, you'll learn all about them. Hopefully, if doesn't come down to that, but just be aware that if the threads are damaged, all is not lost.

 

[punk'n]

All great suggestions posted above...

However, if all else fails, I've resorted to taking a small piece of square tubing (or even flat stock) and drilling a small hole in it. Then plug weld that (really just a tack) to the remainder of the bolt. That gives you something to grab onto to turn it back out. Plus, it heats it up which may also help.

If you can't weld it yourself, check for a local metal shop. Have the square tube or flat stock cut to size and pre-drilled and ready to go for them and they probably will charge less than $20 to tack it. If it removes the bolt easily, it may be the best $20 you ever spend.

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