Broke all 4 of my cross member bolts...

[Provokr]

Yeah, pretty nasty. I soaked them in pb blaster for 2 days and then heated them up and still snapped all 4. Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend...

 

[dwcopple]

at least you are getting to be a pro at extraction!!!

 

[Hartman]

Odd to see that on an 02.

 

[thammel]

Suggestion....

You might not want to try and remove them. Get a good 1/2" drill bit and drill holes close to them and bolt it up with good grade 8 bolts and nuts. I had the same problem on the passenger side and was able to do this (drill and use bolts) and used exiting holes in the side of the box section rail to insert the bolts. So be sure and drill in the right location so you can actually insert bolts!!

Tom

 

[Provokr]

You might not want to try and remove them. Get a good 1/2" drill bit and drill holes close to them and bolt it up with good grade 8 bolts and nuts. I had the same problem on the passenger side and was able to do this (drill and use bolts) and used exiting holes in the side of the box section rail to insert the bolts. So be sure and drill in the right location so you can actually insert bolts!!

Tom

Yeah, thanks. I already did that today. Not with 1/2 though, I used 7/16. I got through the first bolt and halfway through the second before my $15 drill bit finally quit cutting (and I was using pb blaster at a low speed) and I said screw that and got a 7/16 and drilled next to it and lined it up and tapped out the holes to fit a new bolt. (grade 8 of course...)

 

[Provokr]

at least you are getting to be a pro at extraction!!!

There is no extracting these bolts... I worked on them for 2 days using the drilling, attempt of extracting, and attempt to heat and extract. I drilled new holes and put my tap and die set to good use!! ...thanks to consultation of my best friend