Rishi

Need help. While putting back the front sway bar, the threads of the bolts holding the driver side bracket got damaged, and the bolts refuse to go more than half way in. This is in a 2003 4runner.

Will new bolts solve the problem, or is the nut inside the frame also worn out. How does one replace the nut?

I have the same problem with one of the skid plate bolts.

r0cky

Are you sure it's lining up correctly? When you say they were damaged, can you give more detail on how and/or what the damage looks like? And you tried to get them back on the rest of the way with hand tools or ... ??

r0cky

Take one of the bolts holding the passenger side bracket on and try them in the driver's side, that will at least tell you whether it is an issue with the bolts or something more. That said, I think it would be pretty difficult to hurt what you refer to as "the nut inside the frame" ... so probably new bolts would solve the problem. But do the test I just mentioned to be sure.

Good luck!

As for the skid plate, well, those are a little more difficult since oftentimes things bend and shift around so it is more difficult to get everything back in place again. I have trouble everytime I take the skid plate off and try to put it back on. It takes a lot of struggling and a lot of work, but eventually I'm able to get all the bolts lined up with the holes and get them back in.

jimbo74

why was your swaybar off? and how did you manage to strip the threads?

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Best bet on the nuts inside the frame is to get ahold of a metric threading tap, probably M8-1.25mm. Oil the tap and run it into the nuts, go in about 1/2 turn then back out and repeat slowly until it goes in and out easily. This will restore the threads inside the nut. Then use a new bolt with some anti-sieze and it they should work fine.

r0cky

yeah .... but how could he have damaged the nuts inside the frame? i figured maybe he was having problems lining things up, or if anything, somehow damaged the bolts as that would seem easier to do ...



wish he'd elaborate for us.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Yes, if only the bolt threads are damaged, then indeed new bolts may be all that is needed. But if the bolts were cross threaded or some debris got into the nuts while the bolts were out, it is hard to tell if the threads in the nuts are in good shape or not. I always prefer to run a tap into the nut to clean it out since the tap is good at doing that job with the fluting on its sides (gives the junk a place to go). Also, it is much less likely to jam inside the nut. If that happens it is easy to break the nut free of the weld that holds it inside the frame.

r0cky

Yep.

just wish he'd test it out with one of the bolts he KNOWS is still okay ... that way we'd have a better idea. or if he would just give more details.

94x4

I'm voting with 4Crawler..., that's what I would, and have had to, do before and it works every time.

Bluto

I agree. I had to tap and die my skid place nuts and bolts. A bolt came out damaged (cross threaded at the factory?) my first oil change. I did not notice and damaged another nut with the bad bolt.

I bought a complete metric tap an die set from Sears. Cleaned everything up. I'm sure I'll use it again.

If the nut is too damaged, can it be tapped to the next size? Granted a larger bolt will fit the application. Just wondering.

Rishi

The sway bar bracket bolt was damaged by an impact wrench. Didn't know a cheap cordless one could do such damage ! However, the dealer fixed it.

The skid plate bolts were damaged due to poor fit of the skid plates (due to off road dents).