Copperhead

In advance of installing my new trailer hitch this weekend..I figured I'd get a head start and pull the bumper off tonight.(I'm installing new nut strips). Alas..twas not to be....

PBlasted everything but only got 2 of the 8 bolts to loosen. I shot them again with PBaster and called it a night. Tomorrow morning they will either be broken loose..or broken off. My question is 2 fold..

1) If I snap the bolt heads off will the bumper at least be able to be removed?

2) How should I go about removing the soon to be broken(I use to be an optimistic person until I started working on my Jeep) remaining bolt shafts? Try to punch the shaft and the nuts out or try to drill out the shafts?

Thanks.

thestiegmyster

get a breaker bar or add a pipe to your socket wrench

Copperhead

Anybody?...

Just trying to verify that if or when the bolt heads snap off that the bumper will at the least be able to be removed.

hbracing13

First part yea you can remove the bumper you just have to remove 4 more bolts and off comes bumper. Second part if they snap you can try heating the nut if its on the inside of the rails then smack it with a punch in the middle and with a left handed bit see if it comes out, if no dice just drill them out.

jbsjunk

In stock form, the nut strips have nothing to do with the bumper. Pull the 4 bolts per side behind the bumper and get it out of the way. It does make it easier to access the nut strips with it off. Then you can pull the bolts or what is left of them and move on with the hitch install.

Copperhead

Thanks ...Had to use my breaker bar on every one of them and almost stripped the last one but I got them all off without snapping any..

Thought I was home free for the hitch install till I got to the hanger bracket bolts on the old nut strip. Both were a real b$%#&. I got one off but had to put a pipe on the breaker bar for the other. I almost just left it but I already bought a new nut strip and didn't want to waste it. All new bolts now and the hitch is on.....Only took me all day.

JacksXJ

What size were the bolts? I'm replacing my bumper (currently spraying it liquid wrench) and was thinking of just getting new ones........its a 1999 Cherokee Sport.....
Thanks

Copperhead

M10 regular thread if I remember right....The heads are 15 mm. Got them at Ace hardware..think I paid about 2 bucks each. Good move on the liquid wrench. It made a big difference just letting mine soak overnight.

JacksXJ

Thanks for the info......