By Tommy Dougherty on Saturday, November 24, 2001 - 01:30 pm: Edit

Hey Folks,

I bought a used set of side steps for my 2001 DII and was attemting to install them. I don't have
any instructions - so please bear with my descriptions.

I removed one of the nuts on the body (where you install that 3" spacer which attaches to the bracket.) I put the spacer in it's place and attempted to tighten it up. I got it very tight, but not as tight as the original nut was. I partially stripped the head of the bolt (which you screw that spacer onto) trying to tighten it more.

I can't turn the spacer with my hand, but I can still turn it with a wrench.

My question is - what was the original purpose of this bolt/nut combination? Is it structural or was it put there to hold on side steps?

Any and all help would be most appreciated!!!!!

Thanks in advance.... you can post or e-mail me: tommy@tombec.com

-Tommy

By Jim Murphy (Murph) on Sunday, November 25, 2001 - 11:07 pm: Edit

The original bolt is a body mount. It attaches the body to one of the frame outriggers. You probably don't want to go without.

You'll notice that the bolt goes through a rubber bushing. If you keep tightening, you'll start compressing that. Have you tightened it that far?

When you tried to tighten it, did you have a wrench on the nut at the top of the bolt? Otherwise, the whole thing will spin, and you won't be able to get it tight. I can't quite see how you could have stripped the bolt.

(I finally removed all of my running board hardware a few weeks ago so this is fresh in my mind.)

murph
'99 DSII

By Tommy Dougherty on Monday, November 26, 2001 - 10:11 am: Edit

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the reply.

I had a wrench on the top bolt. When I got to the point that I was starting to compress the rubber bushing, I 'wedged' the top bolt's wrench against a piece of nearby metal so I could turn the 'spacer nut' with both hands. The bolt's wrench must have moved a bit (not flush with the bolt head anymore) and it rounded it as I was turning the 'spacer nut.'

The bolt is pretty tight - I can't turn it by hand, but with a wrench I can turn it. (It's not as tight as the rest of the bolts..)

I've tried to use vice grips on the bolt head to no avail either (it can't get a good bite.)

I don't want to cut the bolt off yet, until I can find out specs on a replacement.

Any ideas.... ;)

Thanks!
-Tommy