Body bolt compromised issue?

[Jondrew]

Good luck! May have to turn the AC on here in Orlando

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[RubiRob]

Good luck! May have to turn the AC on here in Orlando

Wow, words cannot understate how nerve-racking getting those front body mount bolts were. There were many times where I said to myself, "well, it's gonna snap" and thank God, none of them did. I'll post more in the main sliders thread I've done enough thread jacking here. Sorry OP.

 

[word302]

Just go slow. If you start to feel resistance thread the bold back in a few turns to clear the threads. Rinse and repeat.

 

[LLRubylady]

The thickness of whatever you bolted up won't affect the bolts, you've still got plenty of thread engagement. Locktite would be a good precaution

No way I would do 92 ft/lb.

Yup, do 80.

If you are concerned about loosening, do markings so you can see if bolt head moves over time / in the future.

good idea.

 

[LLRubylady]

It really isn't that hard to do...and except for maybe some wiring, wouldn't require too much in tools to accomplish. I did use a 1/2" breaker bar and 18mm socket to get mine off. Since I have different sliders (that don't include the power down step), I didn't have to do any wiring. And you don't have to worry about the body shifting or anything because there are at 4 more bolts holding it down to the frame...and you won't be driving it with those bolts removed.

With that said...cudos to the hubby and you for knowing your limits and not get yourself into trouble digging in deeper than you can handle. I know my limits and have pushed them a few times...but when you break something (oh...like a body bolt) and you don't have the tools or knowledge to get the broken bolt out...it is time to pay the piper (or dealer in this case) and let them do it.

I see you are from NY...have you reached out to other forum members in your area to see who they would recommend? How about a local Jeep Club? Usually clubs have discounts worked out with different vendors.

I am making a few calls. Dinhave one person who said that they may tackle it.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@LLRubylady

My feeling is ... You would be making a very foolish move, torquing those body bolts to 92#

Those bolts are stressed badly when you remove them and they are undoubtedly compromised a bit. Many guys to include myself went as far as buying new body bolt to use versus using the removed / old / compromised body bolts.

Anyway, either way, new bolts or not, best best is to torque to 80#. IF you are worried only doing 80..... I wouldn't be, as most here have done 80 and had no issues. If concerned, then mark the bolt heads and check those markings occasionally.

In closing, you can always tighten up a bolt that works it's way loose a little bit but you got a major headache, if you snap off a bolt when re-installing a bolt. And again, bolts that you have just forcefully removed are compromised and good chance they will not handle torquing to 92#.

.

 

[LLRubylady]

@LLRubylady

My feeling is ... You would be making a very foolish move, torquing those body bolts to 92#

Those bolts are stressed badly when you remove them and they are undoubtedly compromised a bit. Many guys to include myself went as far as buying new body bolt to use versus using the removed / old / compromised body bolts.

Anyway, either way, new bolts or not, best best is to torque to 80#. IF you are worried only doing 80..... I wouldn't be, as most here have done 80 and had no issues. If concerned, then mark the bolt heads and check those markings occasionally.

In closing, you can always tighten up a bolt that works it's way loose a little bit but you got a major headache, if you snap off a bolt when re-installing a bolt. And again, bolts that you have just forcefully removed are compromised and good chance they will not handle torquing to 92#.

.

I agree. Although for $40 I can buy all new ones. That’s not bad either. Thank you.
Now of course I don’t own a torque wrench. Guess I’m going to harbor freight tomorrow.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@LLRubylady

Even using new body bolts, I would not torque to 92#. No way.

In regard to the new body bolts. Dealer can obtain, but to get them, it could take days to a week or so.
I ordered and a couple of them were readily available and came in next day .... but the the other two, with a different part number, came in about 10 days later.

 

[JC7]

Wow, words cannot understate how nerve-racking getting those front body mount bolts were. There were many times where I said to myself, "well, it's gonna snap" and thank God, none of them did. I'll post more in the main sliders thread I've done enough thread jacking here. Sorry OP.

Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I added my steps before I saw any of these threads. Lol

 

[RubiRob]

Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I added my steps before I saw any of these threads. Lol

Haha I hear that. Definitely made it more scary reading all the posts. Either way glad it's done!

 

[RubiRob]

I agree. Although for $40 I can buy all new ones. That’s not bad either. Thank you.
Now of course I don’t own a torque wrench. Guess I’m going to harbor freight tomorrow.

Depending on what you buy, they might already come with the replacement hardware. Mine came with new body mount bolts.

 

[Tunesoul]

@Rhinebeck01
Sounds like you're not a proponent of torquing the bolts to 92 ft lbs. Hahaha... Factory specs call for 92 ft lbs. I had zero issues loosening or retorquing the body bolts to 92 ft lbs on my 2018 Jeep Wrangler Jl Unlimited Rubicon. You can torque them to what ever you'd like I guess. I'm just super critical that everything I work on is ALWAYS torqued to the exact factory specifications. But that's just me...super OCD...

 

[Twinjayhawks]

I took mine to the body shop at the Dealer... it was a cheaper labor rate at the body shop. 15 min later the steps were installed. They charged me 1 hr of labor. Well worth it.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@Rhinebeck01
Sounds like you're not a proponent of torquing the bolts to 92 ft lbs. Hahaha... Factory specs call for 92 ft lbs. I had zero issues loosening or retorquing the body bolts to 92 ft lbs on my 2018 Jeep Wrangler Jl Unlimited Rubicon. You can torque them to what ever you'd like I guess. I'm just super critical that everything I work on is ALWAYS torqued to the exact factory specifications. But that's just me...super OCD...

@Tunesoul

Actually, I do firmly believe in torquing to specs when working on things.. working on vehicles.

In this case though, guys/gals are re-installing body bolts that are compromised. There is no way they are not compromised.

The body bolts were stressed when originally inserted at the factory and equally, if not more stressed, when removed.

With that said, no way would I torque the body bolts that I had removed and was re-installing to 92#.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, you can always tighten up a bolt that works it's way loose a little bit but you got a major headache, if you snap off a bolt when re-installing a bolt.

If you are concerned about the body bolt working it's way out over time, mark the bolt heads and then check for movement of same periodically.

.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@Tunesoul

I forgot to mention that even though you re-installed, compromised body bolts back in and torque it to 92 ft/lbs. and got a way with it.... ACTUALLY, even if someone torques to either 80 or 92 ft./lbs. and got away with it..... does not mean a compromised body bolt might not just break days, weeks, months later, when the vehicles frame tweaks, etc..

Even new body bolts can do this (break, shear) but for obvious reasons compromised (previously stressed) body bolts may very well chitt the bed so to speak when the body is tweaked / twisted, say when going off roading or just during regular driving on a very uneven road.

So, undoubtedly, best bet is to buy new body bolts and not reuse the overly stressed/compromised body bolts that you forcefully remove from the JL.

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