Advice needed!! Body bolts

[Rhinebeck01]

@IPvFletch

Did you post earlier in another thread that you could not get the body bolts loose. IF it was not you, then there is another guy posting today that says he is stalled, as he can't get any of the body bolts to budge..

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[IPvFletch]

@IPvFletch

Did you post earlier in another thread that you could not get the body bolts loose. IF it was not you, then there is another guy posting today that he is stalled as he can't get any of the body bolts to budge..

Not me, I had no problem getting the middle/rears loose, it's just the fronts which are driving me nuts.

 

[Steevr]

Saw a YouTube video where a guy used a heat gun on the bolt to break the loc-tite instead of a torch.

 

[IPvFletch]

I have tried heat gun, it did nothing. 125' F tops. My torch got it to 378' F but I chickened out on any further as it had already been like 4-5 minutes and the torch tip was glowing red.

Ok, so quick UPDATE... using sheer brute force I was able to get the front bolt to move quite a ways.. I probably got about 3 full rotations in (about 24 slow 1/3 turns) and each pull was about the same in terms of strenght required.. but now I've hit major resistance and it's not budging at all. Either way (I can't even re-tighten it). The bolt is sticking out about an inch or so and the washer and lower body mount bushing are free and can be spun around no problem. It's out far enough I bet I could get some pb blaster or acetone on the threads -- if only I could even re-tighten at this point which I can't.

I could try a little more strength (a la breaker bar) but am hesitant to at this point because I feel like it's up against a wall somehow. I feel like next turn is bolt break city, so I'm going to hold off and probably just try the Jeep shop tomorrow as I think I'm dead in the water on this one now. I haven't bothered with the pass side, but from trying it the other day, it's just as tight.

UGH!

I guess one other idea is hit it with the torch again now that it's out a bit. It might make the bolt loosen even if not loosening the actual loctite...

 

[WillDo559]

Not me, I had no problem getting the middle/rears loose, it's just the fronts which are driving me nuts.

I read that you used a ratchet. Big breaker bar was key for me, also slow and easy. Beer doesn't hurt as well. If I heard a creek or crack I would turn it the other way and start again. I used an 18" breaker bar, 24" would have saved me some soreness. Slow and steady wins the race. Give it some muscle, if you take it to the shop they're gonna just do the same anyways. Good luck either way, but you'll feel much better if you do it yourself. I probably gave up 3-4 times lol

 

[TrailTorque]

I would do the heat again man. The dude from Loctite says this is the approved way to do it.

 

[IPvFletch]

I would do the heat again man. The dude from Loctite says this is the approved way to do it.

I've seen this video but the bolt threads are so far up inside you couldn't even get near them with heat. This guy is showing the chemical use of heat on loctite, but not practical use. The heat induction thing sounds like the best, maybe my Jeep shop has one..

 

[TrailTorque]

I've seen this video but the bolt threads are so far up inside you couldn't even get near them with heat. This guy is showing the chemical use of heat on loctite, but not practical use. The heat induction thing sounds like the best, maybe my Jeep shop has one..

Understood.

I would be careful using a breaker bar. I know others have had success and I have too before but generally if it’s on there and you’ve tried heating and still no dice you’ll end up sheering that sucker off. Heat of some sort it your best bet IMO.

 

[WillDo559]

I have tried heat gun, it did nothing. 125' F tops. My torch got it to 378' F but I chickened out on any further as it had already been like 4-5 minutes and the torch tip was glowing red.

Ok, so quick UPDATE... using sheer brute force I was able to get the front bolt to move quite a ways.. I probably got about 3 full rotations in (about 24 slow 1/3 turns) and each pull was about the same in terms of strenght required.. but now I've hit major resistance and it's not budging at all. Either way (I can't even re-tighten it). The bolt is sticking out about an inch or so and the washer and lower body mount bushing are free and can be spun around no problem. It's out far enough I bet I could get some pb blaster or acetone on the threads -- if only I could even re-tighten at this point which I can't.

I could try a little more strength (a la breaker bar) but am hesitant to at this point because I feel like it's up against a wall somehow. I feel like next turn is bolt break city, so I'm going to hold off and probably just try the Jeep shop tomorrow as I think I'm dead in the water on this one now. I haven't bothered with the pass side, but from trying it the other day, it's just as tight.

UGH!

I guess one other idea is hit it with the torch again now that it's out a bit. It might make the bolt loosen even if not loosening the actual loctite...

The bolts arent getting tighter, your arms are! Lol take a break and try a breaker bar, you're half way home!

 

[Jondrew]

I've seen this video but the bolt threads are so far up inside you couldn't even get near them with heat. This guy is showing the chemical use of heat on loctite, but not practical use. The heat induction thing sounds like the best, maybe my Jeep shop has one..

Heat induction tools will only heat the part you get the induction coils around. The difference between a heat induction tool and a torch is the bolt head is the only thing that gets hot. Get a decent heat gun with a concentrator nozzle and hold it on the bolt head for 5 minutes or so. I tried this tonight on my work bench and it did manage to get some heat up to where the nut would be (not 550 degrees worth, but high 200’s from what I can tell). You may snap the bolt anyway.

The guy I bought my rock sliders from said he did 3 installs. Did 2 jeeps with no problems, then broke the last bolt as he was doing his own Jeep.

 

[Jondrew]

Heat induction tools will only heat the part you get the induction coils around. The difference between a heat induction tool and a torch is the bolt head is the only thing that gets hot. Get a decent heat gun with a concentrator nozzle and hold it on the bolt head for 5 minutes or so. I tried this tonight on my work bench and it did manage to get some heat up to where the nut would be (not 550 degrees worth, but high 200’s from what I can tell). You may snap the bolt anyway.

The guy I bought my rock sliders from said he did 3 installs. Did 2 jeeps with no problems, then broke the last bolt as he was doing his own Jeep.

Here’s a heat induction tool in action, From Snap On, so you know its expensive!

 

[ZEN357]

Heat, WD-40, Breaker Bar. If you get the bolt loose, replace it with Grade 8 bolts and use blue loctite if you are gonna go that route. Otherwise, me personally would put anti-seize on the threads and install a lock washer and then torque the bolt down.

 

[IPvFletch]

Wow, so my local Jeep shop got these bad boys out in no time. I feel so defeated, but glad the pros could knock em out with ease. They didn't even want any money (but I tipped him big).

They just used a huge breaker bar, and then really wrenched on it. The one I loosened half-way already, and was stuck in place, made a huge ping and then each wrench on it made another ping or two. It was really scary but nothing broke. I was worried the inner nut welds were coming loose or something, but nope. Came right out. The front passenger side ended up the same way. They got it about 1/2 way out with their air tools, and then it got stuck. Then breaker bar, some more scary pinging sounds, and voila, it came out too.

The threads look good - there's a gashes on some them, and cuts in some threads, but nothing that blocks the threading, and they don't look the least bit cross-threaded, so that is a good sign. I do see some red Loctite on them, and plan to clean all of it out of the threads, and soak the bolts in some parts cleaner for a bit. This should help ease their re-install.

 

[Jondrew]

Are you driving around with the bolts out?

Wow, so my local Jeep shop got these bad boys out in no time. I feel so defeated, but glad the pros could knock em out with ease. They didn't even want any money (but I tipped him big).

They just used a huge breaker bar, and then really wrenched on it. The one I loosened half-way already, and was stuck in place, made a huge ping and then each wrench on it made another ping or two. It was really scary but nothing broke. I was worried the inner nut welds were coming loose or something, but nope. Came right out. The front passenger side ended up the same way. They got it about 1/2 way out with their air tools, and then it got stuck. Then breaker bar, some more scary pinging sounds, and voila, it came out too.

The threads look good - there's a gashes on some them, and cuts in some threads, but nothing that blocks the threading, and they don't look the least bit cross-threaded, so that is a good sign. I do see some red Loctite on them, and plan to clean all of it out of the threads, and soak the bolts in some parts cleaner for a bit. This should help ease their re-install.

 

[Skipswift]

Wow, so my local Jeep shop got these bad boys out in no time. I feel so defeated, but glad the pros could knock em out with ease. They didn't even want any money (but I tipped him big).

They just used a huge breaker bar, and then really wrenched on it. The one I loosened half-way already, and was stuck in place, made a huge ping and then each wrench on it made another ping or two. It was really scary but nothing broke. I was worried the inner nut welds were coming loose or something, but nope. Came right out. The front passenger side ended up the same way. They got it about 1/2 way out with their air tools, and then it got stuck. Then breaker bar, some more scary pinging sounds, and voila, it came out too.

The threads look good - there's a gashes on some them, and cuts in some threads, but nothing that blocks the threading, and they don't look the least bit cross-threaded, so that is a good sign. I do see some red Loctite on them, and plan to clean all of it out of the threads, and soak the bolts in some parts cleaner for a bit. This should help ease their re-install.

No heat, just a breaker bar? I really want to add a set of ACE rock rails to my JLUR but I am terrified about breaking these bolts.

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