Hi All,

Was working on adding a Curt Hitch to my 99 XJ, ran into a small snag when trying to attach the bolts on the passenger side. The welded nut strip appears to be way too rusted and the bolts will not catch, I was reading through some other thread and someone suggested just removing the strip all together and using the metal plates which came with the hitch(same way drivers side attaches). It sounded like this involved removing the bumper, so I started this journey yesterday.....well I got 6 of the 8 bolts out from the bumper brackets, the two remaining bolt heads appear to be stripping. Any suggestions on how I could remove these? My end goal is just to use all new bolts when reattaching but I am hoping i can remove these last two but they are pretty rusted, I have been using some Blaster Penetrating Spray, maybe its just a waiting game of continuing to apply this until they are loosened up enough? I have heard heat can help loosen bolts, I am a novice so here I am!

Also if anyone has tips on how to remove the welded bolt strip let me know. It seems to already be loose as its sticking up on one end.

Appreciate all the help everyone is always so willing to provide here!

 

Are those bolts still locked in tight but with rounded heads? If that is the case.. They have these new special sockets you can pick up at your local Auto Parts store that are specially designed to grab ahold of rounded, stripped bolt heads so you can get it off. You could also use a dremel tool with a grinding cut-off wheel to grind yourself a slot in the bolt head and use a large screwdriver to try and twist the bolts off. Failing that.. you can use the Dremel cut-off wheel to simply cut off the heads of the bolts altogether.

This is a great excuse to go buy yourself simple Dremel tool kit. and they are incredibly useful tools once you have one.

As for the rusted Hitch bolt. In my opinion.. you are going to have to get your hands on a grinder. And just grind that bolt off. Then, either use a welder and spot weld a new bolt it the old ones place.. or use the steel plates.

 

those sockets are gimmicks and dont really work. I will try and find the ones that guys in our shop use later

 

I got an extractor set from my local store as suggested and it worked for one of the two problem children! I have to get a small extension to get the other one out, thank you for the suggestions!!

 

Awww.. that's a bummer. I'd been eyeing those sets for a while. Wanted to get one for myself.

 

Advance auto sells the Irwin extractor socket sets (similar to those linked above). They can usually be found at hardware stores like Lowe's as well. They are not gimmicks and I have used them many times successfully, on my Jeep, on the neighbors vehicles, and other odd jobs. (hub bolts, brake caliper bracket bolts, jungle gym equipment, etc.). They are particularly good for when bolt heads have deteriorated from rust, but also worked on fully-rounded bolt heads. The kit linked above had more straight edges (like a 6-sided socket) but the Irwin extractors are fluted/rifled like the inside of a rifle barrel, so they really bite into and lock down on the damaged fastener. The trade-off being, that the fastener can not typically be reused after (at least in my experience).

 

 

I do not miss rust!

JCR makes a nice replacement nut strip..... JCR Nut Strip

That might help you out once you get that last bolt out. At that point, I'd either snap it off or grind it off, replace the nut strips / hardware and be done.

 

 

if you're referring to the sockets that have a sort of "spiraled" interior, then yes those are the good ones....the ones he posted above though are definitely gimmick sockets.

 

HEAT!

Get some plumber's pads or welding blanket if there's anything around the bolt that you don't want to melt or might be dangerous (like fuel lines) and heat the crap out of that sucker. In the picture it looks like you can just hit it with heat without worry, but definitely use heat.

 

Yea this is what I am going to try next, I managed to get the bumper off with the extractors I linked above (Spiraled Interior). Now If I can just get the two bolts out for the remainder of the nut plate. I am going to bring it to a friend who is more mechanically inclined/has a blow torch today. Good news is my tool collection has grown 10 fold after this

 

Well. SHOOT! I'm glad I posted in this thread. I want the spiraled ones! Get'n those.