**WARNING** TOTAL CHAOS BED STIFFENERS (but really it’s Toyota’s fault)

Looking at this snapped bolt, it looks like half the diameter is paint or some sort of anti-corrosion coating. The actual amount of steel thickness is rather small. Pair that with soft metal and it really does appear to be a weak fastener.

 

Good to know its been fine for you. I actually broke the top bolt off on BOTH sides, but was able to easily get the other one out ... I used a ratchet and barely twisted it past snug, crazy how weak they are.

 

I actually broke off the other side too lol but was easily able to walk it out like you suggested. I mangled the back of this one really bad with pliers attempting to back it out with the stiffener still on so I'm not sure if it'll come out too easy. Plus, I'm a little lazy and not sure I want to take the whole thing off again if the top screw is essentially cosmetic and not providing any load bearing/functional application. I'm going to try a screw extractor so I don't have to take the whole thing off again (found it was a pain in the ass to get the top drilled nut tightened with that plate behind the tail light didn't have a proper wrench so had to use pliers to hold it).

 

That top bolt is Tacoma hardware ... I believe its m6 20mm long 10mm, they are all over the tail light area. Once I back it out, I may replace it with some better screws, I'm sure local hardware store has something better.

 

There are dozens of us in this thread!

 

Hey hey hey! Don't you try to ruin this thread with common sense. This is Tacomaworld. We don't put up with any of that malarky around here! Lol!!!

 

0 issues here

 

No. This is a screw -


And a very big screw -

 

grade 5 metric bolts don’t exist or you don’t want them if they do. That’s a big red flag that you got butter bolts.

Metric strength class 8.8 is what you want, look for “8.8” stamped on the head of the fastener.

 

Not sure it's even possible with this install but, one should always if possible, tighten the nut itself and not the bolt.

 

While waiting for my bed stiffeners . I watched install videos and read reviews and prepared my self for my own installation . I took off both tail lights and used a 10 mm wrench for the inside nut and I was able to torque down the bolt with out snapping the weld . Even if it did snap I’ll still be able to tighten it .

 

My buddy and I both picked up some TC bed stiffeners. His came in first and he immediately snapped the top bolt on install. He told me about it and I made sure I was super careful with mine as not to break it. Seems to happen to everyone who didn't know it would snap beforehand.

 

i guess i'm extremely lucky? didn't see this thread 'till now, installed my tc stiffeners around a month ago, no issues. didn't watch a video, didn't look at reviews. bought on aesthetics and mounting point positioning.

of course, my process was to install that top bolt first to position everything, but leave it loose, as it worked out in my head that mechanically speaking, torqueing the other bigger bolts down would push and pull the stiffener into final position, that top one was just there to keep the top anchor point from getting too floppy.

 

Reviving an old thread... Does anyone know the Toyota part number for this bolt? I'd like to get a replacement.

Yes, I snapped one. Yes, I was aware this might happen. Yes, I tightened all the other bolts first bottom to top. Yes, I was using a torque wrench. I tried to be careful but still happened. I put the second one on at a lower torque and it was fine.

 

Lol. I did the same thing the top bolt has to be made out of the weakest metal along with the other 2. I will check I think I still have an extra in the bag with the #.

 

Part # 90119-a0079. I took the taillight off and used needle nose pliers to back the bolt out enough to grab onto it from the outside with regular pliers to twist it out. Good luck just take your time it will come out.

 

What torque setting did you use for the 2nd?

 

Thanks for the part number! I was thinking of just using an extractor, but not sure if that would work or not. I didn't know you could get to it from the back. I will try the plier method first. Thanks for the idea.

I torqued the second one to 100 in-lbs. Probably could go lower if you wanted. I would just get it snug.

 

I did the pliers as I've never used an extractor and didn't won't to double down on making it worse. Only took a few minutes of slow short turns. There's not much room so it's like grip the screw turn it an 1/8 re-grib and repeat for a few minutes. Until enough is sticking out into the bed side, then attack it quickly from the outside. That screw seats in a welded on nut on the inside of the bed.

 

Sign me up for the bolt breaker club. I’ll get around to replacing it at some point but it’s rock solid as is. And turning it through from the backside was easy to do with pliers.