Front cross member

Stole the pic off here but have a situation where the nut on the backside (assuming) broke the weld and the bolt spins without tightening or loosening.

any ideas on how to get access to the nut without major damage?

 

Cut it off and weld in a new plate with a welded nut behind the plate.

 

Could you just drill a hole on the right side (from wheel well side) to get a wrench in there?

 

i am guessing fabrication is not your strong point.

weld nut and call it good fastest and easy

 

You made me curious, I went out and looked at my '03. Look close to the left of the radiator, that slot on the inside of the frame? It's about 1"-1/2" long, I'd wonder if I could fit something in there to hold it from the back . . . . . but it looks like you'd have to take the radiator out to do it. Might have to open the hole up a little. Then (without welding equipment) figure out a way to lock it when I put it back in. Then I'd probably start net searching or pricing out welding equipment because there's gotta be a better way LOL

 

X2. Since it seems the nut is still where it belongs, just spinning on the bolt, why not hold it where it belongs with that bolt and weld it again through one of those holes nearby?

 

One of those things making a decision is better up close and in person.

This is the problem when you use random pictures..

Does OP`s truck also have that piece of square tube?? Is the picture even of the same year?

I have a different bumper mounting bracket did it change after 2002?

 

It seems we need a photo of the area in question on the OP's truck instead, but there's been no further response...

 

I’ll get a pic today; been dealing with getting it back and doing a once over on everything. It’s an 04 and no square tubing on mine. I remember it being broke back when I had it and just remembered it the other night and tried to find pic online vs taking one

 

5 minute job to go from bumper installed to fully removed including the crash bar fortunately.

If the welded nut is broken loose, you'll just need to cut that end off and get someone to weld in some flat stock with a nut welded to the backside of it.

Less than a dollar in material and only a few minutes for any welder.

Ask friends and family if anyone knows how to weld.

 

if it has been this long and the bumper has not fallen off yet why bother ??

I am sure many more important areas need addressed first.

 

Have you never heard of or used weld nuts made just for this type of application?

Has much more area to weld then a regular size hex nut allowing you to control the heat better.

 

I own plenty for this reason alone.

More expensive than regular hardware, but that's why I only use it when needed.

 

I wish I had a garage and a welder
cut hole slide open end wrench in and get it done. It's just the bumper not a motor mount or anything.

 

I’m not opposed to finding a way in there but I don’t have a welder.

I like the option of cutting off the front and fabricating a new piece to weld back on.

Currently only I know it’s there but in the future if I want to put a bumper on it needs to be fixed.

Most definitely there is more important areas to address….. like the suspension. 16 year old pro comps hahaha

 

jamb a pickle folk or something in between the 2 and see if friction helps ya.
cut bolt tap hole get bigger bolt
use hole in pic 3 to J-B weld the nut back on
cut larger hole in pic 3 or 4 and get a bent open end wrench
just some ideas

 

You could just cut off the head of the bolt.

That bar that runs across the front there is removable once the bolt on each side come off.

 

Anyone happen to know the size of the nut welded on the back side?

 

It'll be metric.

If it's M12, most likely 1.25 or 1.5

Then again I'm really pissing in the wind here and if you took that nut off, you could replace it with whatever cause you'll need both a new bolt and nut.

You could easily unbolt the other one and go to a hardware store and buy what you need instead of guessing.

 

Would a nutsert, once the current bolt is removed, be a reasonable way to attach a bolt?