Stripped bolt on Mopar Hinge Reinforcement Kit - Ugh!

[BobK]

Murphy's Law was in full force today in my garage!

I decided to install the Mopar Hinge Reinforcement Kit along with the Oversized Spare Tire Relocation Kit. Everything went beautiful until the last frigging bolt. I was literally torquing the last # 4 - "M10 Button Head Cap Screw T45" when the torx wrench failed to bite all the way to the torque setting (it worked on the prior three)

Fortunately, I was able to get the bolt back out before it completely rounded out, and then went to find a replacement. My first stop was my favorite old timey hardware store, where you can still buy one bolt and one washer at a time, not a dozen in a blister pack. They had one, but more to come on that, it was close in length but didn't have the non-threaded area at the tip (no biggy). They didn't have a black washer so I bought a silver one and sprayed painted it.

Just for grins, I stopped at the local Jeep Dealer, after some confusion they were able to find the Mopar parts list for the Hinge Reinforcement Kit, but the bolts part number includes all the bolts in the entire kits (not broken out separately) while they had none in stock they told me to expect it to cost $40-60 and all I need is one bolt.......

Lowes and Home Depot were a bust, noting even close. So I came home to install the one I found at the old timey hardware store. Guess what? Before I got to the full torque setting the torx wrench started to round out the bolt again. Before anyone jumps up and down, I used a different wrench than the first time.

So now I'm wondering how to get the original Mopar bolt (or two) without spending $40-60 for a bolt kit that I don't need.

Any thoughts, suggestions or spare bolts would be appreciated......LOL

Pic's below are of the bolt in question (#4) and the remains of the first bolt I ruined.........

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[Steveo]

One word...Fastenal

Sounds to me like you may be using the wrong size torx bit. What size are you using? That kit had some odd "half" sizes like T-35 and T-45.

T-35 is especially hard to find.

 

[BobK]

Reasonable question, It is a T-45 and I have several complete sets and both times I used the T-45.

The same T-45 fitting worked fine on the three other bolts.

 

[Steveo]

Reasonable question, It is a T-45 and I have several complete sets and both times I used the T-45.

The same T-45 fitting worked fine on the three other bolts.

Is that washer on that bolt captive? (SEMS bolt)

 

[BobK]

Indeed it is. However, the replacement I bought at the hardware store isn't/

 

[Steveo]

Indeed it is. However, the replacement I bought at the hardware store isn't/

That's weird that it's stripping out on you like that, is it terribly difficult to drive in even when it's not close to being tight?

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

McMaster-Carr.

 

[BobK]

McMaster-Carr.

Can't seem to find the same bolt and for $10 I get 100 tries, that is amazing (and maybe necessary) but there doesn't seem to be the right size.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

You could buy something slightly different that’s the correct length and thread pitch and simply replace all of them so they match. Cost you a lot less than the criminal $40 Jeep wants for bolts that won’t be available for months and will strip out exactly like the ones you already have.

 

[BobK]

You could buy something slightly different that’s the correct length and thread pitch and simply replace all of them so they match. Cost you a lot less than the criminal $40 Jeep wants for bolts that won’t be available for months and will strip out exactly like the ones you already have.

Good point. So here is my dumb question (not the first one today).

I think trying to torque a Torx head bolt is fraught with risk (witness two flubs today). Why does it need to be a torx headed bolt, why not a hex head?

 

[Steveo]

Good point. So here is my dumb question (not the first one today).

I think trying to torque a Torx head bolt is fraught with risk (witness two flubs today). Why does it need to be a torx headed bolt, why not a hex head?

Home Depot sells recessed hex "socket cap" screws in metric/black. Those would work as well.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...Recessed-Hex-Screw-2-per-Bag-803458/204281937

 

[BobK]

Home Depot sells recessed hex "socket cap" screws in metric/black. Those would work as well.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...Recessed-Hex-Screw-2-per-Bag-803458/204281937

I'll have to go back tomorrow to look at these. The bolt needs to have a head that will support a washer about an inch in diameter and the bolt itself is 55mm long from under the head.

 

[Steveo]

I'll have to go back tomorrow to look at these. The bolt needs to have a head that will support a washer about an inch in diameter and the bolt itself is 55mm long from under the head.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crown-B...ex-Socket-Cap-Head-Cap-Screws-09098/203539007

When you go in the hardware department those are in the "drawers" not hanging in bags on the shelf. Only uncertainty is the thread pitch 1.25 or 1.5?

Edit, I don't think HD sells black washers though, might find those at an auto parts store. Not all HDs have all the lengths on those socket cap bolts either, so check on their web site.

 

[BobK]

Actually, I plan on going to my "old timey" hardware store, they literally have cabinets with drawers on five sides of two aisles, about forty feet long filled with every size and color of bolt, fastener, and do-dad. The have SAE and Metric etc. Now that I am looking for a hex head bolt, he will have many choices for me, I'm sure. I don't know why I didn't think of that myself. I was too focused on replacing one of the four, instead of thinking about replacing all four. I'm guessing from the look and feel of these, that these are Grade 8 bolts.

 

[Steveo]

Actually, I plan on going to my "old timey" hardware store, they literally have cabinets with drawers on five sides of two aisles, about forty feet long filled with every size and color of bolt, fastener, and do-dad. The have SAE and Metric etc. Now that I am looking for a hex head bolt, he will have many choices for me, I'm sure. I don't know why I didn't think of that myself. I was too focused on replacing one of the four, instead of thinking about replacing all four. I'm guessing from the look and feel of these, that these are Grade 8 bolts.

I'll be installing that kit in the not-too-distant-future so I think I'll have better bolts on hand based on your experiences. Thanks for sharing.

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