Snapped Bolt on Fuel Tank. Suggestions appreciated

well F@&C%!
Installing RCI Skids on the under side of my 3rd Gen Taco and got to the “easy one” and I’m pretty sure I’ve really screwed up.

Replacing the Plastic cover over the fuel tank with the steel Skid and got over ambitious torquing the Lock nut down on the rear driver side bolt. And “BOOM”
Snapped the bolt with maybe a quarter inch left sticking from the tank.

The other 3 are secured on there and I’m hesitant to undo anything for fear of screwing something up worse. Any of you creative types out there have a clever solution for either replacing that bolt or somehow securing the back drivers side of this skid plate down? as far as I can tell the only function of those bolts were for the OEM cover, so if I can secure the skid plate, I’ll be content.

 

Grab the broken half with a pair of pliers and see if you can spin it back out. I got a snapped bolt out of my spindle that way.

 

You will likely need a new strap. I'm not sure if you can replace just the bolt

 

Unfortunately the bolt mentioned appears to be a part of the tank and not something I was putting in myself

 

What is this Strap you speak of? Is that bolt only on the rubber strap and not the tank itself?? That would be huge.

 

Ahh I see, hopefully someone else has some experience on what to do then.

That feeling of snapping a bolt is probably one of the single worst DIY mechanic feelings there is lol. Depending on the severity of it. Been there done that, got the t-shirt.

 

https://parts.stevinsontoyotawest.c...qer06i_sj_XpnuC9IXtOJA_PuYhoTPnBoChDwQAvD_BwE

the strap holds the tank up and looks like it has the bolts built in

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...traps-to-your-non-trd-off-road-tacoma.490603/

read up and have fun

 

One day I’ll get through a DIY in the suggested time, and with every piece going in the right way the first time. And I’ll likely be twitchy and nervous as hell about it

 

If it was an OEM bolt it's weird that it snapped like that unless you were really over torquing the sucker (or it was already flawed somehow), were you using a torque wrench or just going by feel?

I snapped a grade 8 bolt on my lower ball joint assembly just torquing it to spec so even when you do things by the book, they can still go wrong lol.

Coming at the bolt from an angle is a good way to snap them even if you aren't over doing it, that's one lesson I've taken away from it. Not always easy to come directly at it with a wrench especially working under a truck.

 

You da man. Looks like I’ll have another project on the horizon.

 

I was just going by feel of the amount of force I used to get the original bolt off. I probably over did it, but I appreciate the benefit of the doubt.

 

If you have a dremel you can cut a slot in the end to fit a flathead screwdriver and back it out like that.

 

This looks like a stud and nut arrangement. If the stud is permanent and cannot be taken out with an easy-out, I would either replace the entire strap which would be the right way to do it, or I would take off the skid, grind the stud flat, drill and tap it and either insert a stud or use a bolt. If the material is too thin to take a thread, I would take the strap off, drill it for a stud with a shoulder, and rosette weld it on the back side. I would use option 2 or 3 if I had to wait on a part or there was some other reason not to replace the whole strap. Without being able to get my hands on it, it's hard to say exactly what to do. If you weld in a stud, don't do it on the vehicle or let someone do it that way.

 

If there’s enough threads left in there, go to True Value and put a T nut on it- easy peasy.

 

^^^THIS^^^

Welding it under the plastic fuel tank?

 

Easy out kit

 

If it was a stud or bolt end then yes, but it’s the head of a bolt in the strap and can’t be pulled out that way.

 

get a new strap.. be sure to support tank (especially if you have a full tank..). for now I'd remove the skidplate until you replace the strap.. ( much easier with an empty tank).. straps will hold it just fine as is..

get some new hardware (nuts) too... good luck.

 

^^^ new strap .
Edit , that size stud you only need a 3/8 ratchet .