broken valve cover bolts (1 Viewer)

[spressomon]

Its day 3 of soaking ... which from your recanted experience is basically futile. I really don't want to do this job. All I can think about is forming a lynch mob

 

[h2opl20]

I was hoping that the leaking oil from the gasket would have loosened it up but I was wrong. I was very careful just trying to get them to budge and adding more Kroil (i used a half can spraying on these this week). Once I got the other ones on the bottom to budge I was set. These two just snapped off easily just like last time. I was glad they broke off clean with the head as it is much easier than a nub like on the drivers side. The ones on the top were just "finger tight". I think the problem is that the holes on the bottom go straight through without a plug of some sort that can be removed. This is just an area for salt to sit and corrode it away. Steel and aluminum corrosion probably as well. The gaskets seem to get brittle with age. Antiseize is a must for rust belt trucks on these bolts. I used new bolts for this job. View attachment 1396946

@2001LC I attached a picture of an "old" bolt with a "new" one to show you the difference in the rubber crush washer. The rubber crush washer on the old bolts are very brittle and I had one break in half when I was messing with it.

Do you happen to remember the bolt sizes? I'm doing this job this weekend. Trying to gather all my parts. Thanks to this awesome forum, there is so much information that I feel confident doing this myself.

 

[2001LC]

Do you happen to remember the bolt sizes? I'm doing this job this weekend. Trying to gather all my parts. Thanks to this awesome forum, there is so much information that I feel confident doing this myself.

I could measure the bolt for you. But that the wrong way to go. Buy OEM with washer is what you want. Look up part number here, has picture sometimes. PartSouq Auto Parts Around the World

 

[h2opl20]

I could measure the bolt for you. But that the wrong way to go. Buy OEM with washer is what you want. Look up part number here, has picture sometimes. PartSouq Auto Parts Around the World

Awesome thanks! And thanks for this link, I've never seen it before and it will help for future fixes!

 

[2001LC]

Your welcome!

Keep in mind it's not 100 % accurate but best I've been using. The pictures as you drill down to individual parts are very helpful, as are the diagrams. As you do drill down, notice sometime "0" available for original PN. Then you'll see replacement Toyota PN. Some prices are really good others not. Watch out, shipping sometimes is very high.

 

[Xterra]

Hello everyone, Xterra guy helping a buddy who picked up an '04 LX 470.

Just wanted to that everyone from the 'how to's' and most importantly, the troubleshooting tips when valve cover bolts break.

On the passenger side, we broke the lower 2 corner bolts. Vice grips did not help and were ready to flatbed the LX to a shop...then we found the threads here and drilled out and tapped 1 of the 2 bolts so far. M6x1.0 tap cleaned up the hole.

The bolt near the firewall needs a 90 degree driver to get in the tight space. We'll do that tomorrow (did not have that in my tools at the time) and got some longer M6 and a nut in case we need to secure from the back side of the head flange. Anyway, thanks again for all the info it kept us both semi-sane and I learned something new in the process.

YOU GUYS ROCK.