Removing Body Bolts for Side Steps: What Worked and What Didn't Work?

rockadile · Mar 12, 2019

After reading through the warning thread and seeing all of the broken bolts and recommendations on how to avoid it, I figured I'd through together a poll to try and determine what worked and what didn't. I also added the model year to see if we can determine if it seems to be more of a 2018 issue, 2019 issue ,or nondenominational.

Chocolate Thunder · Mar 12, 2019

Too. Many. Options.

TTEChris · Mar 12, 2019

I firmly believe how you leverage your breaker bar when removing these bolts is critical due to the hole being larger than the bolt itself. I tried the impact and while it removed a couple of the bolts, the rest I had to do with the breaker bar. With the breaker bar I used one arm to put pressure against the breaker bar while pulling on the other. When it became difficult, I threaded them all the way back in and then slowly turned back out. When I finally got the bolts out with the breaker bar the threads almost looked damaged. I ran a nut up/down the threads and re-installed the bolts with blue locktite.

noloc45 · Apr 24, 2019

Used a rework soldering station with a heat gun and put it on the bolt for 2-3 min. Breaker bar to break loose and then impact driver to remove.

RenoMD · Apr 24, 2019

There’s only one way to be sure take it to a dealership or shop. Trust me! The stealership charged me a whole $118 to install my Evo rocker bomber steps... totally totally worth it. Don’t be foolish don’t be proud wrench the crap out of everything else just don’t do the body bolts less you want to put up with a headache and forkover more money

Capt-Zoom · May 5, 2019

Both my 2018 and 2019 had no issue with body bolts. Just good old fashion muscle

G Man · Oct 4, 2019

I voted in the 2019- Impact and no heat catagory. But I did spin a middle flag nut. I was able to take a wire thru the channel and get it aligned so I could get the middle bolt in.

Oysters · Nov 12, 2019

Used a torch and a breaker bar, made sure to keep socket and exstension directly beneath bolt... took forever... got all 6 bolts out.. took 2 hours to install Ace Rock Sliders. Front two bolts red loctite, both middle and rear had blue loctite 2019 JLU

Removing Body Bolts for Side Steps: What Worked and What Didn't Work?

If you tried to remove your front body bolts, what's your model year, method(s), and success?

I have a 2018, I used heat and an impact gun, I successfully removed both bolts.

I have a 2018, I used heat and an impact gun, I DID NOT successfully remove both bolts.

I have a 2018, I used an impact gun and NO heat, I successfully removed both bolts.

I have a 2018, I used an impact gun and NO heat, I DID NOT successfully remove both bolts.

I have a 2018, I used heat and NO impact gun, I successfully removed both bolts.

I have a 2018, I used heat and NO impact gun, I DID NOT successfully remove both bolts.

I have a 2018, I used NO heat and NO impact gun, I successfully removed both bolts.

I have a 2018, I used NO heat and NO impact gun, I DID NOT successfully remove both bolts.

I have a 2019, I used heat and an impact gun, I successfully removed both bolts.

I have a 2019, I used heat and an impact gun, I DID NOT successfully remove both bolts.

I have a 2019, I used an impact gun and NO heat, I successfully removed both bolts.

I have a 2019, I used an impact gun and NO heat, I DID NOT successfully remove both bolts.

I have a 2019, I used heat and NO impact gun, I successfully removed both bolts.

I have a 2019, I used heat and NO impact gun, I DID NOT successfully remove both bolts.

I have a 2019, I used NO heat and NO impact gun, I successfully removed both bolts.

I have a 2019, I used NO heat and NO impact gun, I DID NOT successfully remove both bolts.

rockadile

Well-Known Member

Chocolate Thunder

Well-Known Member

TTEChris

Well-Known Member

noloc45

Well-Known Member

RenoMD

Well-Known Member

Capt-Zoom

Well-Known Member

G Man

Active Member

Oysters

Member

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