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Bolt on transmission skid plate spins

Discussion in 'Wrangler TJ (1996-2006)' started by The4x4Guys, May 25, 2019.

  1. May 25, 2019 at 1:49 PM
    #1
    The4x4Guys

    The4x4Guys [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    First Name:
    Bob
    Vehicle:
    2018 Black JLUR
    Mopar 2" lift, 37" BFG KO2's, KMC Rockstar 17" wheels, JCR Offroad front and rear bumpers, WARN Zeon 10-S, CoolTech CB Radio Kit, Rock Slide Engineering step sliders, TeraFlex adjustable steering stabilizer, Rock Krawler adjustable track bars,Magnaflow dual tip black exhaust.
    Well, I had my morning all planned out. I was going to replace the speedometer o-ring to stop a leak there (flattened old o-ring), drop the transmission skid plate, drain the transmission, replace the filter and filter o-ring, re-fill the transmission and plan out my coolant lines to go the B&M tranny cooler that I acquired.

    I got the speedometer o-ring dealt with in ten minutes, fifteen if you include de-greasing the bolt, clamp, and sensor. I then pulled up my 1/2 socket wrench with 18mm socket to remove the two cross member bolts (one on each side) I decided not to use my impact wrench since I've heard of folks breaking the bolts. I used the wrench to break it free, only to find that no matter how many times I turned it, the bolt was not coming out. You guessed it, the captive nut apparently broke loose, therefore my hopes of getting to the transmission were dashed.

    I don't see a good way to get to the captive nut since its obviously inside the frame. This does not bode well for my planned body lift and needing to remove all the body bolts. The underside of my Jeep is virtually rust free. The skid plates and frame are still painted black from the factory, where there is rust, it is only very mild surface rust that is easily removed. I had already used PB Blaster on the bolts on the transmission skid to the transfer case skid, but hadn't sprayed the two cross member bolts.

    So my questions are:

    1) How do I get the two cross member bolts out?

    2) If this happens with the body bolts, what to do? Hopefully, this doesn't happen, but I'd like to be prepared.
     
    TJ_abuser likes this.
  2. May 25, 2019 at 4:07 PM
    #2
    TJ_abuser

    TJ_abuser Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    First Name:
    Todd
    Vehicle:
    2005 jeep unlimited
    2 inch lift, bumper and winch 33" mud claw
    You can grind the lip off gently or drill it out then you will need a new nutsert they are about 8 bucks at O'Reilly I think there's a video on YouTube how to crush the new one without buying the expensive tool. Let me know how it goes I have to do mine lol. Ok I read it again I got my bolt out with an impact and wedgeing a screw driver between skid plate and frame and pry down while you hit it with the impact gun. If that fails you're going to have to hacksaw bolts off then get nutserts out and replace
     
    aggrex and The4x4Guys[OP] like this.
  3. May 26, 2019 at 7:51 AM
    #3
    The4x4Guys

    The4x4Guys [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    175
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    Vehicle:
    2018 Black JLUR
    Mopar 2" lift, 37" BFG KO2's, KMC Rockstar 17" wheels, JCR Offroad front and rear bumpers, WARN Zeon 10-S, CoolTech CB Radio Kit, Rock Slide Engineering step sliders, TeraFlex adjustable steering stabilizer, Rock Krawler adjustable track bars,Magnaflow dual tip black exhaust.
    Glad to hear you got your bolt out, I will be trying again tomorrow. Once you got the bolt out do you plan on replacing the nutsert or are you going to try and reset it so that it grabs?
     
    TJ_abuser[QUOTED] likes this.
  4. May 26, 2019 at 8:05 AM
    #4
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    DE
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    Backcountry '16
    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    Spinning nutsert/rivet nut needs to be removed and replaced. Works well when it works or installed correctly but rust has other plans.
     
    TJ_abuser likes this.
  5. May 26, 2019 at 6:25 PM
    #5
    TJ_abuser

    TJ_abuser Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    First Name:
    Todd
    Vehicle:
    2005 jeep unlimited
    2 inch lift, bumper and winch 33" mud claw
    Yep once they spin they are done and yes planning on fixing mine just ain't done it yet.
     
  6. May 27, 2019 at 2:51 PM
    #6
    The4x4Guys

    The4x4Guys [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2019
    Member:
    #3048
    Messages:
    175
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    Vehicle:
    2018 Black JLUR
    Mopar 2" lift, 37" BFG KO2's, KMC Rockstar 17" wheels, JCR Offroad front and rear bumpers, WARN Zeon 10-S, CoolTech CB Radio Kit, Rock Slide Engineering step sliders, TeraFlex adjustable steering stabilizer, Rock Krawler adjustable track bars,Magnaflow dual tip black exhaust.
    As a former boss of mine used to say "when faced with eating a turd, better to do it one big gulp than lick it all day long". I went out to the Jeep today, quickly tried all of the suggestions I'd received (pry it down while loosening the bolt, use the impact wrench to tighten it, then try loosening it, etc.). In the end, I pulled out the Dremel cutting wheel again and cut off the bolt head. The good news is the skid plate is off (see pics below) but the remainder of the nutsert and the bolt are trapped in the frame. I'm guessing they will rattle until I figure out how to get them out.

    In the meantime, I dropped the transmission oil pan, drained all the fluid, replaced the filter and o-ring that holds it in place, and used Permatex and a gasket (after a thorough cleaning) to re-mount the oil pan. The skid plate will stay off until I get a new nutserts and bolts (Grade 8) and until I re-fill the tranny with fluid and ensure there are no leaks.

    As I've mentioned before, this Jeep has no rust on the body or the frame. Thank goodness for two-owner garage kept Texas Jeeps!

    IMG_0488.jpg IMG_0489.jpg
     
  7. May 27, 2019 at 3:46 PM
    #7
    The4x4Guys

    The4x4Guys [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2019
    Member:
    #3048
    Messages:
    175
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    Vehicle:
    2018 Black JLUR
    Mopar 2" lift, 37" BFG KO2's, KMC Rockstar 17" wheels, JCR Offroad front and rear bumpers, WARN Zeon 10-S, CoolTech CB Radio Kit, Rock Slide Engineering step sliders, TeraFlex adjustable steering stabilizer, Rock Krawler adjustable track bars,Magnaflow dual tip black exhaust.
    I hate admitting defeat, so I had a brainstorm and went back out into the garage and Excelsior!!! I got it out.

    First I got one of thse bendy grabbers that I use to snag dropped nuts and bolts deep into the engine compartment and taped a rare earth magnet to it. Then I fished up and down the frame channel until I snagged it. Then I drug it to the opening and clamped down on it with vice grips. I then took out my handy Dremel and cut one side of the interior of the nursert off, so that it would fit through the frame hole. See pics below.

    IMG_0490.jpg
    IMG_0491.jpg
     
    Harleymick and aggrex like this.
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