Caution: Broken Body Mount Bolt When Installing Frame Mount Rock Sliders / Rails / Sidesteps

[Redneck_Jedi]

I'm sure there's a reason, but wouldn't it be possible to have the Rock Slider mount slotted, so the Body bolt would only have to be loosened instead of completely removed. Maybe something like this...

View attachment 122321

When combined with a pinch seam mount, it could probably be made just as strong.
I know it may not totally eliminate the potential for broken bolts, but I'm sure it would help.

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[LeoTheDragon]

Has anyone just asked the service department at a dealership to remove the front two bolts for you so you don't risk breaking it? I want to install ACE sliders but after reading through these horror stories I am super afraid, but I still want to install those sliders... I don't know if a dealership would be kosher with removing a body mount bolt for you so you can install some aftermarket part... but maybe some would?

 

[clobato]

Well add me to the list of broken bolts. I attempted to install my Ace sliders on Christmas Day. I started with the passenger side front bolt. I heated it for about a minute or so with a torch and then started backing it out with a ratchet. I got maybe a quarter turn and then snap! I was pissed and gave up on the install.

Fast forward to today, I took the Jeep into All Seasons 4x4 in Denver (I highly recommend them). They got the broken bolt out in about an hour and had the sliders installed in about another 1.5 hours. As far as getting the bolt out, they told me they removed all the body mounts on the passenger side to allow the body to drop farther down on the frame and to give better access to the bolt. They drilled out the bolt and got an extractor in it. They said with a little heat from a torch and the extractor, the broken bolt came right out.

 

[skrubi12]

Add me to the list as well. Driver’s side loosened up, passenger’s side snapped.

 

[Martindfletcher]

has anyone counted the number of broken bolts?

 

[clobato]

Add me to the list as well. Driver’s side loosened up, passenger’s side snapped.

I know your frustration all too well. Based on what the shop told me, the removal of the broken bolt is pretty straight forward with the right tools.

 

[Jeepmarkjl]

wonder if this is a bad batch of bolts used in the mfr process?

 

[Martindfletcher]

wonder if this is a bad batch of bolts used in the mfr process?

Too much red locktite in most the cases I have seen in the threads, I could not have blamed air impact because it couldn’t turn it. Luckily mine just cried and moaned, and it came out a quarter turn at a time with a 20” breaker until it hit the ground.

 

[Jeepmarkjl]

Too much red locktite in most the cases I have seen in the threads, I could not have blamed air impact because it couldn’t turn it. Luckily mine just cried and moaned, and it came out a quarter turn at a time with a 20” breaker until it hit the ground.

My snapped bolt had blue loctite. Took a turn and half and snapped.

 

[skrubi12]

what's funny is nice, even, steady pressure allowed me to turn the driver's side bolt - I didn't remove it fully but I was able to get it turned and tightened again, and then loosened some more, then tightened (to clear the threads). It took more force to do this on the driver's side than it did to break the bolt on the passenger's side. My seat of the pants guess is this bolt was stressed/cracked/something upon install at the factory. I have neither the tools nor knowledge to get the bolt out so I'll end up having to pay someone to help

 

[Martindfletcher]

My snapped bolt had blue loctite. Took a turn and half and snapped.

Wow with blue, that’s nuts. They must have over torqued it or something, the business end of the threads look in the pic. Or as you said bad bolts

 

[Jeepmarkjl]

Wow with blue, that’s nuts. They must have over torqued it or something, the business end of the threads look in the pic. Or as you said bad bolts

The tip of the bolt was marred during the extraction process. Mechanic had to go in from the top to get it out.

 

[Fire Burns]

ugh. Sorry. This was Field Jeep in Glenview??? They didnt bother going in from bottom on mine. Simply took out driver seat, drilled in from top, extracted it, patched hole, put new bolt back in. Wonder why they chose not to learn from when they did mine.

So they could charge more to Jeep and stick it to the man!

 

[rcpeters]

Just to give future projects hope. I was successful. 2019 Sport. No heat. Front passager bolt was harder. I lossened all the bolts one turn before proceeding with removing any others further.

 

[LeoTheDragon]

Has anyone just asked the service department at a dealership to remove the front two bolts for you so you don't risk breaking it? I want to install ACE sliders but after reading through these horror stories I am super afraid, but I still want to install those sliders... I don't know if a dealership would be kosher with removing a body mount bolt for you so you can install some aftermarket part... but maybe some would?

Anyone?

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