vroomvroom

Hey all,

I have a 1996 Jeep XJ and need to know where to get the front end hardware from? I've searched and searched and can't figure out what exactly I need.
Headlight bezels, turn signals, and side markers don't seem to have a tight fit. My side markers keep popping out when I drive my Jeep. Any idea what screws, washers, and nuts I may need?

Please don't say the junkyard. The junkyard near me doesn't usually have any XJs. If they do, they are the newer body style 97+.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

PatHenry

Much of the stuff on the 96 and prior years has screws that run directly into threaded plastic on those pieces. Your options are likely - Hit the hardware store and buy the next size up screws or Macguyver some kind of tighter fastening or buy new pieces from Quadratec/Amazon. The hardware store will have a variety of common size fastening mechanisms, clips, etc, probably in the plastic trays in the "bag your own" section.

vroomvroom

I bought a brand new headlight bezel and it's definitely NOT threaded plastic. What now? Can anyone help me figure out how this is secured please?

PatHenry

If your new bezel is like mine was, you'll see exactly what I mean when you go to attach the sidemarker... not only threading into the plastic, but you'll be cutting those threads yourself.

Ok, so as I recall, there are two screws that attach the bezel to the fender - those may be welded nuts, or a backing piece.. on the side I was doing, they were holes. I used very long thin bolts with a tiny nut and washer on the inside of the fender (lots of "feel" more than looking). There is another screw on the inside. This was attached to a fiberglass piece that the P.O. had put a big screw right into the fiberglass.. not optimal, but it has held up.
I have no idea on the bottom, there was no bumper on mine save for a welded bar of steel... I just tightened the grill trim to the bezel with a bolt and on the other side I used a butterfly type thing that I hooked behind a sturdy piece of fiberglass.. it doesn't move seems fine..

You have to wonder why your trim pieces are loose - is it missing female connecting bits.. are they wallowed out, did a mounting point break, etc. and see what the best solution is.

If you want OEM, you may find replacements in the "Help!" stuff by Dorman at the parts store, in the "auto trim fasteners" at a good hardware store (the larger Ace one town over has more than the one down the street for me) or at the junkyard.

The best way to find the original hardware style is via "the other side" on your own Jeep, or the junkyard or the parts catalog. I can send you it if you PM me.

vroomvroom

Thank you for a detailed explanation! I couldn't find much information on this topic. This was informative and a great starting point for me. I appreciate it!

PatHenry

No problem - body and trim stuff can be a pain in the butt. Let us know how everything turns out!

Spencer_P

If it is just the hardware you need, team Cherokee sells a lot of the oem screws and bolts.

awg

Ok..I wont say junkyard...but the best place is to personally get the bits you want is off a wreck..or off someone on the list who will mail them to you from a vehicle they are wrecking.

Once you know what you have, replace them with stainless