Stuck Skid Plate Bolts

I was going to do some work following some DIY's I found, and one of them was radiator flush. So I decided to pull the plates off to do my fluids.

I literally broke an old ratchet trying to remove the two front bolts on the front skid plate. I put some WD-40, and lube, and then tried with my combination wrench with the circle end getting the tightest grip possible and I am still incapable of removing the bolts. I removed all the other bolts and have the tranny plate out, so I know I am not doing it wrong, and I am also missing the middle bolt for the front, so I can see the nut is welded on top, and that they should remove like the others.

I am turning the wrench counter clock wise. I try slow power pull, and have tried more powerfull yanks, including with a hammer.

In my DIY's, they just say "remove the skid plates", and then don't cover the removal of them, like it is suppose to be a breeze, like "pop the hood". Even the few places I found about it, didn't mention them being hard to remove, they just showed where they are at.

I guess I want to know if they are different, like if there is a technique for removing them? Because they feel like they are welded on, and I feel stupid for doing doing one of the most basic of jobs and getting stuck on the first step.

 

Need more leverage and a 6 point socket.

No they're not welded, just rusty.

 

Mix ATF/Acetone 50/50, spray on and let it work. Repeat a few times. And get some leverage. Cheater pipe, combo wrench linked to the first one, or best option would be a breaker bar and six point socket. Patience!

 

How old was that ratchet you broke, I've always broken the bolt before breaking a ratchet. If you are still unsuccessful then I would say "grind, drill, rethread".

 

Pb blaster over night sometimes helps. I have a 30" piece of pipe that I use for breaker bar. Slide over ratchet handle for leverage. 6 pt socket for sure. Sometimes heat will help also. GL

 

If you broke a ratchet on these things, your ratchet was shit and be glad you broke it on this rather than somewhere else that wouldve cause your hand or knuckles to slam into something hard. These retaining bolts are 12mm bolts that shouldnt be too hard to break lose.

 

hit it with some kano kroil the stuff works wonders.
heh i even clean my guns with it

 

Heat up the bolt. Its the fastest safest way to remove rusty bolts. The torch is probably the most used tool in my shop.

 

I think Toyota puts red Loctite on a few of those bolts. I had a hell of a time when I removed mine and it only had 10K on the odometer.

 

Right here if anything is going to break it loose it will be heat. Penetrating oil only works so much. I would advise heating it and trying to pop it open numerous times. Once that bolt is sheared with to much force drilling it is going to suck.

 

You ever try heating it up and shooting ice water instantly?

 

I am about to go at it again. The ratchet I used had a crap system for changing direction, so when I pulled with all my strength the ratchet just loosened and it would change directions. It was just some old one I had lying around that I didn't really like.

I got me a little propane tank with a torch head that I use for my big oven fire place, and for camping. I am hoping the lube on them over night helped clear them out.

I didn't want to have to replace them, cause I planned on putting in those all-pro trail armor but I was hoping to get them, the bumpers and the sliders all at once, after I get my suspension.

These are good ideas, if they give me a hard time I will let you all know.

 

Subd - I'll be doing this soon to get to my rack bushings. They broke off on my old truck, and I'd like to avoid that this time. Let us know how it went.

 

I looked up a couple DIY's, and used a propane torch, decent sized hammer, gorilla grip socket, 6 point socket, 8 point socket, star shaped socket, WD40, General Lube, General Use Oil, and used different types of ratchets from regular, to screwdriver handle type.

I got nothing but two stripped bolts now, and a headache. I have never seen a bolt not come out like that, so I am still stuck. I did notice that the middle one is missing because it isn't aligned. I trying to screw one of the other bolts and couldn't get it in, and may this is a reason why I can't get the others off. I looked at the spacers on these also, and it looks like someone took one of those impact wrench guns and smashed them in something fierce.

So I really don't know what to do now, I have never seen a torch not work, so I don't know what next step is.

 

When yer done, clean out the thread holes and tap...don't remember the size. Then, clean out the bolts, and run 'em through a die so that life will be easier next time.

 

Sounds like drill time. Start out with small bit and work your way up in drill bit size. Not sure if easy out will work with bolts so seized. If you can drill most of the bolt in diameter, it might. Otherwise will end up tapping. Sorry for your bad luck, but ain't nothing but a thing. At least it's not performance issue.

 

Did you use the propane or oxyAce to heat it? Because propane doesnt get hot enough or distribute the heat well enough I've found.

 

I put general use lube and oil on them last night after doing the WD40 and Torch thing. This morning my ratchet wouldn't work.

I took my friend to get a hood and bumper for his honda, and back at his house we used his tools. He used an impact wrench on them, and his extender snapped and the socket got lodged on the bolt. So I got his grinder and was putting on the attachment, and he took his ratchet and hooked it onto the socket, and started smacking it with a handheld sledge hammer, and bam, it started loosening. So he did the ratchet with impact socket with 6 point, and did the hammer thing again, and it came loose.

It was clearly a case of "I loosened it for him". Them bolts were covered in lube and oil, and there was literally no rust on them, cause I cleaned them out with the torch. I guess what I learned was, don't be a pussy when it comes to hammering out bolts, and use proper sockets.

I am shocked the bolts are still intact. My bro gave me a new set of bolts from his stash, cause the heads on mine were shot.

 

I used the green propane tanks with the attachment that goes on top.

 

I hate installing the skid plates.