Skid plate bolts siezed/snapped

When I was under the Tacoma I noticed the skid plate was loose and the one bolt snapped the other one is probably siezed or become one with the plate and frame. Can I drill these out ?

 

I'd try spraying a penetrating oil on them for a few days and then use an easy-out to try and remove them. Just make sure you start with a small drill bit first centered in the fastener, then work up to the size drill you need for the size of easy-out needed.

 

Use a LH drill bit if possible and center it well. An easy out may get it if the drill bit doesn't. Sadly, if you let some monkey oil boy at it, they are probably cross threaded and the reason they snapped. These guy will NOT hand thread bolts if they were hanging over a vat of old boiling oil.

 

As far as I know they still there from the factory, I think they just rusted up and the one snapped off even with the hole.

 

The OEM bolts are the self-tapping type so it's incredibly easy to cross thread when all you are trying to do is reinstall the skid. Add in salt, moisture, and rarely ever taking them off and yeah they'll seize up.

Use plenty of antiseize when you get it all fixed up and they'll never be stuck again.

I take the skids off every spring to give the underside a good rinse and then I slather the skid in thick paste wax so that it'll hopefully survive a very long time.

 

You may try some penetrating lube/heat/penetrating lube/heat. That has worked well for me.

 

Mine all snapped off the first time I took the skid plate off. I drilled all out and use nuts/bolts on the rear two - and since I seem to take the plate off pretty regularly for maintenance, zip ties on the front (to keep it from rattling).

 

When you do get them all out, replace them with some good grade 5 or grade 8. I got mine at Tractor Supply. I usually put a dab of grease on them before reinstalling, to keep them from seizing.

This is (in my opinion) PSA#2 for our trucks, right behind #1, check your transfer case actuator vent hose, regularly.

 

To that point, if you have a NEW truck, now is a good time to drop each bolt separately and anti sieze it now.

 

dont feel bad, my truck is pretty clean and the 14mm crossmemeber bolt used for slider install i snapped yesterday. 1/2 drive 14mm, should have lubed her

 

Its a 2013, I should have lubed it back in the day. I lube/grease all the bolts I do now. I'd penetrating lube it but it snapped the head off I was gonna just zip tie the thing tight.

 

got the 2 unsnapped ones out hit them with penetrating lubricant and they broke free, had to drill out the 2 snapped ones was a pain in the butt

 

Seriously, if you didn't, consider replacing them with harder bolts. They'll take a lot more torque.

 

Aren't they aluminum?

 

Good on you, that was one of my specialties when I was working..
Extracting broken bolts, didnt matter who broke them, they all came to me...

 

No, but they aren't very tough either. Grade 8 if they are replaced.

Honestly, Japanese bolts aren't the greatest steel in the world, they have always been prone to easy breakage even on my old Land Cruisers. I have alway used jacks to hold skids in position to install skids so it's far easier to start them threading properly and I won't use an impact either, just a battery powered ratchet type that doesn't really have much torque. And yes, slobber on the anti-seize every time you take one out.

 

was talking about the skid plates and the need to wax them.

 

Gotcha. Some are, some aren't. Mine is steel, TRDOR. I think the Pro's were aluminum.

Wax. Eh. Steel, remove, clean, paint if needed. Aluminum, clean and clearcoat if you want.

 

The black "shield" that covers the oil pan is thin stamped steel and can rust. I call this a skid plate but maybe some don't.

I also have the gray Aluminum TRD skid plate. That one doesn't get any wax, but I still take it off yearly to clean the bug guts off of it.

 

No idea what the bolts were made of, it was silver inside the rusty part. I don't think it was aluminum because i picked up shavings with a magnet. Surprisingly the "skid plate" is the only part under the truck that's rust free. Got some replacement bolts I am going to put on (with Anti-seize this time) after I grease the driveshaft (gotta get some grease). I got one of those clamp on claw grease fittings any of you use them?