I was putting on a set of mud guards on last night and accidentally used a bolt that was too long on the left front guard (btw a 2000 SR5 sport).

The bolt got about 3/4 way in before it got stuck (inside the plastic flares) and couldn't go in any farther. The problem now is that it won't come out either! I didn't use any sort of plastic anchor so I'm baffled as to why it won't turn in or out, nor can I forcefully pull it out either.

Any advice on how to deal with this?

j

 

Spray the WB40. That might work. If not, someone will suggest better one.

 

Jenaimarr,

Couple questions:

1) What kind of mud guards?
2) Factory supplied bolts, bolts that came w/ the mudguards?
3) Pictures?
4) Did you drill this in w/ a powered drill? If not, have you used one to try to reverse the bolt out?

Bob

 

Bob,

1) What kind of mud guards?
A set of secondhand JAOS Mudguards with mounting brackets but no mounting bolts, so I had to go buy them myself.

2) Factory supplied bolts, bolts that came w/ the mudguards?
I bought 6mm stainless steel bolts that were too long. I think I should've just bought plastic anchors since it just mounts up to the fender flare.

3) Pictures?
No pics yet.

4) Did you drill this in w/ a powered drill? If not, have you used one to try to reverse the bolt out?
Nope, just hand tightened.

Any further suggestions?

jim

 

Was the bolt difficult to thread the entire way in? The reason I ask is because the bolt may have heated up and gauled onto the surface you were screwing it into. If that's the case, you will probably need considerable leverage to remove it.

If you feel like you've exhausted all efforts to remove it gently, there are always ways to get it out forcefully. The problem with this is that you may strip out the hole its currently in which could always be re-tapped. Like Bob said, you may want to try a power drill with a good clutch. That way you can gauge the amount of torque you're putting on the bolt. You could also put a pneumatic gun on it which is a little harder to control. If that won't get it out, there's always pipe wrenches.

 

When you say that it got stuck and won't come out, are you saying it won't move (i.e. cannot turn it) or is it just turning in place? If it is just sitting there and spining when you try to turn it, the threads in that part of the bolt are ground off and you have created a shoulder. Try like Bob said and use a power drill or screwdriver to back it out, also put pressure behind the head of the screw with a flat-blade screwdriver or a small pry bar. The only other thing to do is to snap off the head and try to drill it out.
Just my $.02

 

Thanks for everyone's $0.02. I've almost got a dime now.

Yeah, I must've ground off the thread going in because it's just turning in place. After work today, I'll just pull out the ol' power drill and try to back it out while putting some leverage behind the bolt head.

thanks,
jim