Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: duane2171 on March 24, 2014, 09:50:14 AM

Title: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: duane2171 on March 24, 2014, 09:50:14 AM

Honest!!  I used the search engine!   Does anybody have any secret tricks to remove the stupid Torx head bolts that Jeep seems to insist on using in the stupidest places?  I'm trying to get the tow hooks off my YJ so I can pull the bumper.  I got one moving and twisted the Torx head on the socket.  So do I stock up on sockets as I live rural?  Heat?  Impact?  My welding skills are laughable.....btw so welding a nut on isn't an option I don't think.   I haven't buggered any of the heads....yet :'(
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: cjust on March 24, 2014, 10:05:40 AM
lube your bolts, i use an impact on all of mine. have yet to snap a torx
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: AV.NINE on March 24, 2014, 12:07:17 PM
lube your bolts, i use an impact on all of mine. have yet to snap a torx

Impact for sure. Get some more torx's as well, I've snapped countless on these same bolts.

Feel free to come over, if all else fails I have a welder and a zip disc.
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: cjust on March 24, 2014, 12:40:54 PM
torx's


 ;D :)
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: new2jeepguy on March 24, 2014, 12:50:48 PM
i have never been unable to remove a rusted seized bolt after heating it very hot with my oxy-acetalene torch  don,t understand why it works but it does.Impacting is very hard on sockets etc and I break em all the time   depends on the quality of the sockets to
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: apeman on March 24, 2014, 12:54:18 PM
Cut the heads right off with a grinder and zip disc. Replace with new hardware .
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: duane2171 on March 24, 2014, 01:05:17 PM
They aren't threaded into the frame?  Is there a nut inside?  Cutting the head off sounds easiest.  Me gots lotso zip discs lol.
Did I mention I hate Torx or Torxs?  Sheep....sheeps?  lol
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: apeman on March 24, 2014, 03:32:21 PM
Cut just the heads off. Pull the hooks off and soak the remaing bolt in penetrant. Crank em out with a pipe wrench if need be and use new bolts.
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: duane2171 on March 24, 2014, 03:57:15 PM
Gotcha, will give it a try.  Thanks.
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: AV.NINE on March 24, 2014, 05:30:16 PM

 ;D :)

Bah...

My offer is revoked. Haha
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: duane2171 on March 24, 2014, 07:33:12 PM

Revocation is prohibited.....read the fine print ;)
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: Black Betty on March 24, 2014, 07:50:52 PM
Been there, took out the b-tank and heated the bolts till they were hot enough to grill hotdogs on.  Then I made hotdogs, I think the grease loosened them.

But in all seriousness, heat is your friend.
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: LLYJ on March 25, 2014, 07:50:49 AM
Use a good torx socket (like snap on) then it is also warranteed if using a gun Snappy guy can just pop out the old twisted or broke one and push in the new one - a couple of my YJ torx heads have been warranteed over 5 times each - lots a soaking with PB and heat and the gun should work - I bought a few extra bits which I keep in the box in case I fubar more than one on a job.

That said, the 1st time I yanked mine out of the front bumper/frame none of that worked - they were fused in like a mofo.  Instead of jumping to cutting the whole head off what I did was grab my zip wheel, and cutting from above (wheel parallel with bolt shaft) and cut two flat surfaces on opposite sides of the head (without cutting deep enough to hit the bolts threaded portion) if you can eyeball it camber ever so slightly towards the center as you cut - this gives you two really good surfaces to clamp on the biggest friggin vice grips you have, or wrench or whatever (grips worked best when I fought mine) - the 1 degree camber ensures the grip will slip towards a better grip instead of popping off - repeat the heat and PB (should been soaking already) and make sure the top of the grips are on the hammering side - once you break the fusing it will screw right out - then chase your threads before re-using - those bungs are welded in BTW - g'luck
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: LLYJ on March 25, 2014, 08:13:23 AM
Guess I should mention that if yours are as badly corroded as mine,  you may want to reconsider using the stock bungs, maybe drilling and tapping a size bigger might have prevented this, my next big stuck I ended up ripping the tow hooks right out - the bung threads were too far gone - so now I have a bolt-all-the-way-thru thing going on that is bombproof...like this
(http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h38/pipestoneflyguy/IMGP0273_zps89935777.jpg)
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: duane2171 on March 25, 2014, 10:44:09 AM

Nice job LLYJ!  That would be the way to go.  Make it easier for next time.  I would actually like to find a winch bumper, or at least a heavier one that I can weld a hitch receiver to.
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: Bnine on March 25, 2014, 11:22:14 AM
Easiest method is to palce a large nut on top and weld it to the top of the torx inside.
Title: Re: YJ front bumper removal
Post by: LLYJ on March 26, 2014, 11:32:41 AM
That's a Garvin Wilderness TJ bumper, came with the reciever.  I removed the 3/16 plates/tabs and welded on beefier 1/4 thick tabs and brackets instead. If you can find my build thread (robz YJ) there are a whack more pics there.