who ever designed these bolts for the rear shocks should be shot

[swabib]

In the process of getting the jeeper ready for this weekend, I managed to break off the head of the bolts for my rear shocks. On my last jeep I cut out some metal from my cargo area and put in a nut and a bolt and I dont want to go that route again. Does anyone thing self tapping bolts would be a good idea?

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

we all know exactly what you mean. after years of being in there. they tend to snap off.

With my last XJ, i ended up drilling all the way threw, and dropping bolts down from the floor. with large 2" 1/8" washers..

not sure if thats the "Ideal" thing to do. but it worked for me..

 

[swabib]

What sort of drill bit works best for going through these bolts, I havent broken off one yet, but i am not accomplishing anything either. How do you drop the bolt through, I tried that trick before but couldnt get it through, and my magnet kept getting a hold of what i didnt want it to.

 

[tjs88xj]

I totally agree with ya. We went a ghetto way, and welded rear sway bar mounts where the bolts snapped off at. Wouldnt have gone as ghetto, but thats what my welder wanted to do. Works so far. The bolts take FOREVER to drill through.

 

[dellstopjeep]

while your at it get the rear sway bar links and make some bpe's so you dont ever have to deal with those bolts again.

 

[swabib]

anyone know a good welder in the renton area? I was planning on leaving tonight for the jeep fest but need to get my shocks on before going. Im at work until 3 and would really like to go to this event as this is my first summer out here in the northwest.

 

[bmfm64]

call central welding in renton ask for tim's number.... tim used to own the shop when it was d and b welding, he lives in the highlands and welds out of his garage now.

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

while your at it get the rear sway bar links and make some bpe's so you dont ever have to deal with those bolts again.

THAT'S FU**IN JEANYUS:worship:

 

[dellstopjeep]

to bad the bilstein I am trying to fit in there is a pain in the ass and I dont have a vise for bpe's. Never knew installing shocks would be more work then anything else.

 

[tjs88xj]

Try calling george. Don welded mine up when I was at Georges one day, and did a good job. I still owe him for that too. They may be at NW fest, not sure.

 

[swabib]

thanks everyone

 

[2xtreme]

while your at it get the rear sway bar links and make some bpe's so you dont ever have to deal with those bolts again.

Although this CAN work for SOME applications.
It is not a good idea on many, the shocks are limited in the wrong direction and can create many issues from really weird noises to breaking the shocks.

Michael

 

[dellstopjeep]

so what would make it act differenly or better than with a jks rear bpe???? or will it cause the same symptoms.

 

[Muddy Beast]

so what would make it act differenly or better than with a jks rear bpe???? or will it cause the same symptoms.

Worse then a jks bpe because when the shock is fully extended or compress with this home-made bpe it's twisting in the bushing/bpe it's self rather then rotating in the original mount, or a jks bpe.

~Scott

 

[GlueNTape]

CanMan did a great writeup on replaceing the shock bolts. I broke all four of mine when I did my lift.. no matter how I easily and how much PB I used.

Its really easy to punch out the nuts that are in the frame and use a wrench to fish new ones in there. Took be about an hour to fix all four with Grade8 hardware. All you need is a hammer and a punch. I used a piece of square tube with a small piece of round stock welded to the end. Three wacks and all the nuts were out.. then just fish the new nut in and bolt em up.

 

[guther66]

If you got a welder, you can tack on a small bead until you get something big enough to grab with vise grips. The heat generated in the process helps as well. I haven't done this on shock bolts, but I have on sheared bolts in the engine block.

 

[The_Big_E]

EXACTLY what I did - punch all the welded nuts off of the plate and insert new nuts and washers (Make sure to use a lock washer, a lock nut, or a drop of Loc-Tite and git-er-dun!

CanMan did a great writeup on replaceing the shock bolts. I broke all four of mine when I did my lift.. no matter how I easily and how much PB I used.

Its really easy to punch out the nuts that are in the frame and use a wrench to fish new ones in there. Took be about an hour to fix all four with Grade8 hardware. All you need is a hammer and a punch. I used a piece of square tube with a small piece of round stock welded to the end. Three wacks and all the nuts were out.. then just fish the new nut in and bolt em up.