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Poll: If you removed body bolts did any break

Body Bolts, If you removed some and they did or did not break


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    53

mountainpass

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I am considering installing sliders that require removing 6 body bolts and was curious if this problem was as widespread as it seems.
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Mark Doiron

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Some folks use heat; we did not. We were very careful and didn't have any problems. A couple are tricky because of the way they only partly unscrew then feel sort of odd, like you may have stripped the threads. You just have to pull them out.
 

Troybilt

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The front two are the only ones I was worried about breaking. They used red locktite on them from the factory. I used a breaker bar on them and then hit them with an impact slowly working them in and out. The rear driver side bolt would not drop out all the way so I had to put the a wrench around the bolt and washer and pry on it as I spun the bolt the rest of the way off.

I ordered two new front bolts from the dealer before hand. I wanted to replace them after putting all that stress on them while taking them out. I cleaned off the red locktite with a wire wheel and just used blue on them.
 

kevman65

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No impact. Breaker bar and use steady force. Go slow. Not a race, just another project to get done.

Depending on who you buy sliders from, you may get all new hardware with sliders.

There are metal retaining clips, some say they are plastic but I pulled them out, that hold the body bolts so they don't fall out. They can be a bear to get bolt out of or started back in.
If you want to remove them, after bolt is out take long needle nose pliers, grab the little sucker and pull it out.
 

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WK2JT

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If you did manage to break one, what then? Curious as sliders are on the list, just haven’t gotten there yet.
 

kevman65

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If you did manage to break one, what then? Curious as sliders are on the list, just haven’t gotten there yet.
Then you're looking at cutting sheet metal. They are all captured nuts in internal pockets.
 

Troybilt

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Then you're looking at cutting sheet metal. They are all captured nuts in internal pockets.
I was also worried about this so I went and talked with a local body shop. The owner said he breaks the body bolts once in awhile and that they are easy to drill out. He even showed me one that he did so on recently. He told me that if I ended up breaking a bolt that he could have it drilled out and fixed in no time. $50 charge.
 

FLUndertaker

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No problem removing 6 of mine. Slow and steady with a breaker bar. Easy peasy
 

ShadowsPapa

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I cleaned off the red locktite with a wire wheel and just used blue on them.
Were you not concerned about removing the corrosion protection on the bolt (using a wire wheel) - be it plated or black oxide?
 

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Usethis83

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I did the six when installing the rock slide engineering step sliders. No impact, just loosing with ratchet a turn or so out and the half that back in and repeat. No issues and seemed to clean the locktight from the threads. It sounds a little scary if you go too far, but everything was good.
 

Renegade

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Regular 1/2” drive ratchet. If it binds up, run it back in a little, and let the bolt cool for a minute. Repeat as often as necessary.
 

Deadeye

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Didn't break any bolts, but I wouldn't describe it as easy. I used a breaker bar, and it took a lot of force. Typically, it was only a half turn or so, and then back a quarter turn. Reversing when it gets seized is very important, as it clears the threads of debris.
 

GoVR46

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I cheated and used a Induction Heater. Came out with little fuss.

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