Bolt is loose from front row hook but won't thread out! Help

[keepit100]

ok so last night I was trying to install a brush guard on my 100 series. Everything was fine until I realized I sandwiched my tow hook in between my brush guard and the frame which made the brush guard sit unlevel, so I back the first bolt out easy and then the second which was tougher to remove but broke free and threaded almost all the way out. Seems like no matter how hard I pull or pry on this bolt it won't come out! It's loose and I can jiggle it, it almost seems like there's a nut or something stuck on the threads which won't let it thread all the way out? Again, this is my front passenger side tow hook bolt that won't come out. It's so close! Any help would be very appreciated. It's driving me crazy.

 

[Sandroad]

I can't look at mine right now but I'll bet your right about a captive nut broken free of its weld. If you can't get at the nut, maybe use a Dremel saw on the bolt head?

 

[keepit100]

That's pretty much what I was thinking. Maybe I can use the dremel tool to cut as much of the bolt out as I can? And then just replace the bolt. But if a nut popped off its weld inside the frame then what would the new bolt thread into besides the initial entry threading?

 

[Sandroad]

So Dremel off the bolt head and remove the tow hook. Then (using plenty of PB Blaster and tapping the bolts with a hammer) remove the tie down hook on the driver's side and move the tow hook over there. There is no obvious way to refasten the tow hook on the passenger side. That work?

 

[keepit100]

I've already got the two hook on the other side removed. I can still keep that tow hook on the passenger side where it belongs. I just need that bolt removed so I can finish installing my brush guard. The drivers side will use both original bolts to secure to hook and brush guard and then on the passenger side I might be limited to a single bolt to secure brush guard after its all said and done. It'll still be pretty secure...just not perfect. Can I just cut the bolt out and leave the leftovers of the bolt and that nut that popped off inside the frame and just run a new bolt to catch the bottom threads? Would that be better than nothing at all? Thanks. The goal here is to install brush guard and have it totally secure. Thanks!!

 

[kennyao30]

this happened to me, putting my ARB bumper on. It was a True PITA. basically you have to cut the bolt off and what i did was then brake the other bolt off and weld both to a plate and then weld the plate to the frame from the inside of the frame rail. I wish i had taken a picture for you, but i didn't. I think this will fix your issue!

 

[e9999]

One relatively easy way to handle this, especially if you have (or can safely make then plug) a biggish hole nearby in the frame, is to weld a nut (and washer?) to a bendable long rod and slide it in the frame from whatever access you have or make, then wiggle, bend, and wiggle some more until it's juuust riiiight...

 

[keepit100]

Thanks for all the help guys! I ended up just using a dremel tool to cut the bolt off as much as possible and push the leftover remnants of the bolt up inside the from out of the way of mounting my brush guard. Went ahead and fastened the brush guard as normal. The fine print is i still have a bolt missing on one side of my mounts. That being said its still extremely sturdy so I will just drive it as is until i can swallow how much of a PIA this is haha. Pics below.

 

[e9999]

""extremely sturdy" you say eh? mmm....


maybe that was your truck saying "I don't want one of those things on me"...

 

[keepit100]

Haha I knew somebody would chime in on the damage multiplier. She's solid though. 9/10 bolts are securely fastened so I'm not too concerned about the 1 missing bolt for now.
I use my 100 for when there's snow covered roads up to the ski resort and nasty rides into work so it's really just extremely reliable transportation. That being said, the brush guard is just there for looks and so I can mount a few aux lights. Maybe one day I'll pony up and get the slee blueberry mounted on there...