BillyBoy

Anyone have a good picture or measurements for where I should cut to make two windows in the cargo floor of a 98 so I can access the shock bolts? Mine rusted together and just keep turning. And no, I dont want to just cut the bolts.
thanks in advance.

PatHenry

You want to cut the floors but not the bolts?

If they're spinning it means the weld nuts snapped off. Cut the bolts and use a magnet to fish out the nut side.

I ended up drilling and tapping mine - but I had the bolt head snap off leaving the bolt and nut so there was plenty of meat for the new threads.

PatHenry

Dave51

IMO you better rethink this. That dome over the top of the shock is going to require you to make a pretty big hole in the floor to access those nuts. Since more than likely you're going to have to cut the bolts anyway, if you insist on going through the floor IIWY I'd cut the bolts first the use a punch to dimple the floorboard. The shock bolts go in at an angle, so a hole directly over them will not be useful (if you're trying to keep the holes small).

If you plan on making a 3 inch hole, then just dill a hole anywhere to start cause it won't make much difference.

See post from jomps:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/bro...hat-do-107696/

Dave51

http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php...o-cut-in-floor

petejeep95

This could work?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Bar-Pin-Flag-Nut-for-Jeep-84-01-Cherokee-XJ-Made-in-The-USA-4WD-2WD-/323397927472?_ul=PR
this is how
https://youtu.be/BWJlOUBwXHc

Dave51

If they sold it for like 6 bucks, maybe I'd consider it.

The passenger side you can reach with your fingers. For the driver's side, most people use the wire thread trick. I stole the kid's flexible ruler and made cheater fingers:

awg

does the ruler hole hold the bolt to drop in from above?...clever

also would be the perfect setup for my favorite Dad joke

Kids;...Dad, have you seen a ruler?...me...UR talking to one!

boy my kids got wacked by that one a few times, works well on adults too

PatHenry

By whacked, do you mean figuratively or literally? My boss goes around with a yardstick to whack (literally) disobedient or slacking employees.

If you do make your own tool, make sure to get the "Megaflex" the regular flex is wholly insufficient for the task!!

awg

both actually, if anyone is careless enough to ask me for a ruler, they are subject to my pathetic humor, then I lash out and wack them as I hand it over of course

it is also wise to word a request for an "eraser" in only that precise way

fb97xj1

I dont see how cutting a hole in the floor helps in this situation. Whether youre inside cutting the nuts, or underneath cutting the bolts, youre doing the same work. Know anybody thats good with a torch, or a grinder? A Dremel will work, but youll need quite a few cutting discs as they dont last long, and you will probably break a couple, but it will fit up there.

xjnm

on mine I cut through the floor like the picture above and drilled out the rusted bolts. I then replaced them, tacked the nuts to the sheet metal, and welded the floor back on. If you have access to a welder, this is the way to go!

BillyBoy

Thanks for all the input guys. I went with regular pulling up bolts through with a wire and not cutting the floor. It works nicely.