Factory Bedliner overspray in bolt holes - how to access bolt holes?

[Becks]

Hi, I recently attempted to install a hard tonneau cover and the first bolt I attempted to thread wouldn’t bite. I realized all the bolt holes in the Bedliner had overspray and the bolt wasn’t able to grab. I located several forums outlining this problem and some suggest using chemical to soften and strip the liner, a thread chase or a thread tap. I don’t have any experience with any of these methods and concerned based on what I’ve read it could cause irreversible damage. Please advise how I can get this rectified. I’ve seen other threads that suggest jeep may be able to assist since this is how it came from the factory.

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[Escape.idiocracy]

Do you have a tap/die set?? Chase the threads.

 

[Boostnu]

Use a soldering iron to heat the material in the hole and chase the threads with a tap.

 

[WoolyKris]

That is pretty normal with spray in bed liner. Holes next to the cab supposed to have well nut bushings, if it is a new truck definitely have the dealer do it for you.

 

[RodRecket]

Heat gun and a pick

 

[Orange01z28]

Elbow grease and hand tools

 

[Becks]

Do you have a tap/die set?? Chase the threads.

Are there any videos or tips on how to perform this? I’ve attempted to locate but unable to find..I don’t want to end up with stripped bolt holes.

thanks,

 

[KQL]

What the heck did you search for? “How to use tap and die” brings up a lot of results on the YouTube.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Are there any videos or tips on how to perform this? I’ve attempted to locate but unable to find..I don’t want to end up with stripped bolt holes.

thanks,

Your local hardware store should have the taps and a T handle to put them in. I think the large threaded holes are 8mm and the smaller ones are 6mm. It’s as easy as putting a screw in with a screwdriver.

 

[cafecito]

And this is why I will never sing LineX's praises. It would be such a simple thing to plug these holes for your customers rather than make them have to do all this work after the fact.

 

[Terry]

Your local hardware store should have the taps and a T handle to put them in. I think the large threaded holes are 8mm and the smaller ones are 6mm. It’s as easy as putting a screw in with a screwdriver.

I ran into this when I installed my Molle. Chase the bolt holes with a tap and die if needed; although, I was able in most caases to just press the bolt into the hole and gently ratchet it till it chased the threads on it's own. Not one cross thread...

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I ran into this when I installed my Molle. Chase the bolt holes with a tap and die if needed; although, I was able in most caases to just press the bolt into the hole and gently ratchet it till it chased the threads on it's own. Not one cross thread...

Lucky you! I tried to do that first, minus the gently part haha. So I stripped the head of the screw, removed it with vice-grips, had to find a matching screw with the correct threads, and then get those taps and do it the right way. It had a note about that in the directions for my tonneau cover but I had done it the quick way before with better results. To top it off, I am not very happy with the tonneau itself (Truxedo).

 

[Lunentucker]

And this is why I will never sing LineX's praises. It would be such a simple thing to plug these holes for your customers rather than make them have to do all this work after the fact.

Does Line-X do the Mopar factory spray liner?

 

[cafecito]

Does Line-X do the Mopar factory spray liner?

They did mine, yea. My guess is that dealers just outsource it to whatever third party company in the area can do them.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Your local hardware store should have the taps and a T handle to put them in. I think the large threaded holes are 8mm and the smaller ones are 6mm. It’s as easy as putting a screw in with a screwdriver.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This above.

6mm on the side. I used my 6mm tap and handle. The key is to work it in and start slow. Run it in a little bit, pull the tap out and look for aluminum. It's not that hard if you work like a surgeon. I didn't cut any threads in any of the holes I cleaned out.
The bed liner is softer so you can actually tell if you are cleaning, or cutting. A taper tap is best, not a bottoming tap for sure.

I've done this on 2 Gladiators now. My 2020 and then my 2022 to install my rails.

(I also drilled and installed extra rivnuts in the bed wall of my 2022 as I got paranoid)

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