Snapped bolt in tailgate

[Emmanuelmv]

Hello,

I was torquing down one of the eight bolts that attach the Terraflex carrier to the reinforcement hinge
and it snapped. Would anyone know if I’ll have to get a replacement from the dealer or I can find these in a hardware store?

It’s #6 in this Illustration.

Also does anyone have any recommendations on getting it out?

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[BDinTX]

I had a bolt hole in the tailgate strip out as I removed one of the bolts. If you take the panel off the inside you may be able to grab the tip of the bolt with vice grips and twist it through from the inside. In my case I ended up tapping the hole one size larger and using a cap head bolt. You can probably order that bolt on Amazon. Alternatively you can probably get a box of them from McMaster-Carr
https://www.mcmaster.com/

 

[joethewrangler13]

Junk hardware, replace all 8 with real bolts from a decent fastener supplier.

 

[Emmanuelmv]

Junk hardware, replace all 8 with real bolts from a decent fastener supplier.

Any recommendations?

I was thinking this might work?
https://www.mcmaster.com/product/94863A206

 

[jludave]

Also does anyone have any recommendations on getting it out?

Drill out the center if possible and use an EZ out/bolt/screw extractor.

 

[BDinTX]

Any recommendations?

I was thinking this might work?
https://www.mcmaster.com/product/94863A206

If I remember correctly the bolt you broke is close to 2” long. This one you linked to is only 25mm which is not quite 1” long.

You probably don’t need grade 10.9.

 

[Eyeball]

Junk hardware, replace all 8 with real bolts from a decent fastener supplier.

I found them to be perfectly adequate for the job. However, I am a stickler for following torque specs which were clearly called out in the TeraFlex instructions.

 

[Emmanuelmv]

I found them to be perfectly adequate for the job. However, I am a stickler for following torque specs which were clearly called out in the TeraFlex instructions.

20 ft lbs is what they called for, strange that the rest of them didn’t snap. Might be the torque wrench.

 

[Eyeball]

Also does anyone have any recommendations on getting it out?

Post a picture of the bolt so we can see what you have to work with. One from the front and one from the back if you can get your camera in there for a picture would help with suggestions.

 

[Eyeball]

20 ft lbs is what they called for, strange that the rest of them didn’t snap. Might be the torque wrench.

Did you have any type of lube such as anti-seize on the threads? That will have a significant effect. If so when using a lubricant reduce torque by 25%.

it is also very possible that you simply got a bad bolt. To be sure it was not a bad batch, head over to the local hardware store and pick up a set that will match. In my neighborhood it’s hard to beat Ace hardware for nuts and bolt selection.

 

[THAW]

I snapped an OE tire carrier bolt in the tailgate using the 20 ft-lb torque spec from Teraflex when installing my Alpha HD Hinged Spare Tire Carrier. I believe the factory torque spec is 13 ft-lbs.

I was worried about how to remove the broken bolt, but was able to easily (i.e. by hand, without tools) unthread it from the inside of the tailgate (after removing the plastic cover for access).

If I remember correctly, I bought replacement bolts from the hardware store; I got longer ones because I added a DIY spacer/adapter to run the OE tire carrier (instead of the Teraflex Alpha HD Adjustable Spare Tire Mount).

 

[dragoneggs]

If I remember correctly the bolt you broke is close to 2” long. This one you linked to is only 25mm which is not quite 1” long.

You probably don’t need grade 10.9.

Without looking into it, I would guess you easily get by with 8.8. Look at the head marking if any on the OEM bolt. If nothing on it... then you know they are crap.

 

[6th Floor Mule]

20 ft lbs is what they called for, strange that the rest of them didn’t snap. Might be the torque wrench.

LOL, it’s not just you. I had the same exact issue and only snapped a single bolt as well . . . torquing per the instructions. Got it out with an easy out as others have suggested. I’m not used to breaking bolts, as I’m used to dropping them into places where the bolts are almost impossible to retrieve .

 

[joethewrangler13]

I carefully torqued them to Teraflex specs with a clicker style torque wrench, and broke two of them. They were not bottomed out, so I was able to drop the carrier back off and easily unthread them with pliers. My local hardware store had similar flange bolts in 10.9 that have worked perfectly.

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