Should I use anti-seize on my side steps?

[JAsh1967]

Don't recall where I read about this stuff, but should I, before they (possibly) seize up, get some Loctite silver anti-seize and put it on the bolts (especially the ones that go up into the body) before they decide to seize up (again)?

Thinking about this from the standpoint of:

• I live in Michigan, the road salt will rust up things at some point
• My previous steps, which were replaced under warranty, one of the body bolts seized up, requiring me to eventually drill it out and re-tap the hole. I do NOT want to go through that again!
• It's probably going to be a few years before I look to replace my NERF bars, which gives the bolts more time to seize up

I'm less concerned about the bolts through the pinch weld, mainly because those go into nuts that came with the bars, so if they seize up, I'd be comfortable taking an oscillating cutter with a metal cutting blade to the bolt, because then I can drive the remains of the bolt out one or the other side.

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[kevman65]

Since they come with thread locker on them from factory, no.

 

[JAsh1967]

Since they come with thread locker on them from factory, no.

So the steps I put on are not factory steps, they're aftermarket (both times,) and had no threadlocker on them at all (nor did I add any.)

 

[kevman65]

Are we talking the body mount bolts (about 5 and 6 inches long) or the frame bolts?

Either way, you don't want them vibrating loose. Anti-sieze has nothing to prevent the bolts backing out.

 

[JAsh1967]

Are we talking the body mount bolts (about 5 and 6 inches long) or the frame bolts?

Either way, you don't want them vibrating loose. Anti-sieze has nothing to prevent the bolts backing out.

I'm pretty sure "body bolts" is the wrong term, but it's what came to mind. The bolts I'm talking about are the two bolts that go up through the front and back mounting brackets of the side steps, into a bracket behind the pinch weld.

Here we are, a snip from the install instructions!

So, yeah, "body bolt" is very, very wrong!

 

[Old Young Man]

Anti siege is a good idea. If one is concerned about thread locker, assemble then coat exposed threads with anti seize. I don’t think the hard pre applied loctite would be affected by anti seize.

 

[Old Young Man]

Don't recall where I read about this stuff, but should I, before they (possibly) seize up, get some Loctite silver anti-seize and put it on the bolts (especially the ones that go up into the body) before they decide to seize up (again)?

Thinking about this from the standpoint of:

• I live in Michigan, the road salt will rust up things at some point
• My previous steps, which were replaced under warranty, one of the body bolts seized up, requiring me to eventually drill it out and re-tap the hole. I do NOT want to go through that again!
• It's probably going to be a few years before I look to replace my NERF bars, which gives the bolts more time to seize up

I'm less concerned about the bolts through the pinch weld, mainly because those go into nuts that came with the bars, so if they seize up, I'd be comfortable taking an oscillating cutter with a metal cutting blade to the bolt, because then I can drive the remains of the bolt out one or the other side.

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