I must be having a bad night. Can someone let me in on the trick for removing the front tow hooks?? I'm trying to put this WAAG bar on and I need to remove them. I am sitting here trying to figure out how in the hell you loosen those bolts. They are not budging for anything. And I suspect when they do decide to let go, I will have a broken socket wrench stuck to my bleeding had, both of which will be wedged in the radiator pouring coolant all over the place.

 

Buy some good penetrating spray, or just WD-40 and SOAK the bolts from above and below. Spray it down at least twice in about 2-3 hours time, then try a good whack with a rubber mallet or hammer.

The bolts should have a nut welded to the back end of the hook, so it should come loose or anything. The screw probably just kinda rusted in place a bit.

This is why auto mechanics love air rachets.

 

whats a waag bar. and you never now when you might need those.

Andrew

 

andrew its a new type of light guard....a few ge members had em custom built from a company that stopped producing them

 

where do the tow hooks bolt to the frame?

if you get them off, i might be interested in buying them if you want to sell

 

A trick that sometimes works with tight bolts, is to turn them in the tightening direction, and they trying the other. Its worked for me in the past.

 

I'm going to pick up some WD-40 on my way home from work. I figure I will let them soak this afternoon while I do some yard work and try them again in the evening. If that doesn't work, I'll be looking for a friend with air tools.

 

Well, the tow hooks are pretty tricky to get to, but mine weren't very tight from the factory, so removing them just took about 5 minutes per hook because I could only move the ratchet several degrees at a time.

But I do recommend having some other tow point in the front, or reconsidering the WAAG bar.

 

I learned a little trick with Ford when I put my body lift on. Pretty much any bolt that goes into the frame is dipped from top to bottom in Locktite so its a pain in the @$$ to get out. Welp here is what we learned was really effective after about 3 bolts. If you have access to a moderate heat torch, propane, mapp gas, etc. (we used a BernzOmatic Mapp Gas torch), fire it up and put it to the bolt for about 20 to 30 seconds this liquifies the Locktite and most bolts will come out with hardly any effort.

 

Well, if the WD-40 doesn't work, I'll try setting it on fire. With my luck, the remaining WD-40 will flash an burn all the hair off my face... and i'll break the socket wrench with it embedded in my bloody hand jammed in the radiator covered in coolant.....

 

Well let it air out a bit if the WD-40 doesn't help. :)

 

I hit it with penatrating oil. I was able to get one of the bolts moving. 35 minutes later, moving about 1/16th of a turn at a time causing excrutiating pain in my arms and neck, I got ONE BOLT about 3/4 of the way out. This is a real pain in the ***!

 

i dont think the wd40 will ignite if its in liquid form. hmm i am wondering now. i'll be back in 5 min with the results.

EDIT: if the wd40 is already on the part, it will not ignite (at least mine wouldnt). it only lit when i held the lighter and fired the wd40 like a torch....fun

 

Fire! Fire! Fire! [/beavis]

Ok, well it's it's just being a pure pain in the ***, anybody know the procedure for drilling out a stuck bolt?

 

i guess just start small. then work your way up (bit size)

 

eh heh eh heh.... use some muscle... eh heh [/butthead]

 

I'm sure an acetalyne torch would fix the problem quick fast and in a hurry....you just wouldn't be able to sell the tow hooks and you would prolly want to take anything within a 1 foot radius off first too....just an idea and a better way to play with fire....

 

i wouldnt advise using an acetylene torch that close unless you have a LOT of experience

 

I dont think hes perm. removing the tow hooks.. you have to remove them then switch them right and left and reinstall. Or something like that so they fit with the WAAG Bar

Rand

 

if you are permanantly removing those tow hooks of yours...

let me know, and i will be happy to buy them from you

 

UPDATE

I got the left tow hook off. The top and one of the bottom bolts came out very easy after a lot of penetrating oil and banging the hell out of it with a hammer to vibrate it. The right tow hook however... The socket I have keeps slipping off the bottom bolts. I think the socket is stripped. I am going to give it a try with the tools at the firehouse this evening.

I do plan on putting the tow hooks back on. I am all about being over-prepared. I don't do much off-roading but if I need them to secure my vehicle or another vehicle, I want them.

 

damn dude, stop being a bitch and use a big assed breaker bar.... i had no probs!

or come down- i'll do it for you...

wuss..... :badgrin:

:D if you're still having probs let me know- i have some kick *** penetraiting oil that'll work.... plus i have my torch- and i know how to use it...

-paul

 

:butthead: :finga:

If there was room for a breaker bar, I would have tried it. With the bumper, the transmisison cooler lines, the radiators and other coolers, there hardly room for just a socket wrench.
:axe:

I'm pretty sure the one socket I have that fits it is too stripped and rounded out. We have a nice set at the firehouse that I hope will work. I really hope it isn't the bolts that are rounded out.