Replace thread inserts in bed

Hello,

New owner of a 2013 Access Cab 4cyl 6' Bed. I bought it rear ended and have bought a replacement bed and fenders.

There are brackets over each wheel that connect the bed to the fenders. The bolts that affix those brackets to the bed thread into inserts that are in posts of the bed's composite material.

Well, being as they are right above the rear wheels, they get wet and rust and the heads break off. My used replacement bed has those bolt heads broken off.

Has anyone devised a way to replace those inserts or have a method for getting them out ?
I don't see drilling out the broken bolts as feasible...rusted pretty good.

Thanks,
Ed

 

Pics?

 

Below is a pic of the inserts. They are on the underside of the wheelwell hump. The one on the left is as is from the factory with a broken off bolt rusted in it. The right is after using an angle grinder to cut the insert in half and remove it. The hole left behind is 3/8".

I'll probably have to open up that hole for a new insert.

 

Can you use a blind nut or rivet nut?

$25 Speder 136pcs Rivet Nut Tool Kit Rivnut Tool Nut Rivet Gun kit Wrench Threaded Insert Rivnut Nutsert M6/ M3/M4/M5/M8 Set for Furniture,Decration,Car,Trailer,Boat,and More

https://www.amazon.com/Speder-Threa...=1724089265&sprefix=blind+nut,aps,118&sr=8-11

 

I don't see how. Those appear to be for tubing or sheet metal. I think the fiberglass stub would crack.

 

Some types work like rivets, so they squeeze the material. Kind of like rubber well nuts on motorcycle fairings.

 

A rivnut will work fine, or you could use a rubber well nut like @Revelations mentioned.

 

I drilled around the inserts with a 3/4" hole saw and then popped them out. I epoxied in M6 T nuts.

 

I just went through this. I was able to tap the molded brass nut to the next size up, M8x1.25.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...3rd-gen-today.399305/page-14255#post-30123769

 

Here's the epoxied nut. Can't tell much from the pic but it works.
Thanks Alantaco78 for your link. That's a nice alternative.

 

Is that a modified U-nut? Looks good!

 

I used a T nut which are normally for wood. They have spikes to grip wood.