Trying to get my black tow hooks off so I can put my new 06 FX4 LII tow hooks on. Thought it would be easy because the bumper bolts weren't that bad; I thought wrong! Ford put loctite on them I guess because they won't budge!! I'm gonna take a torch to them tomorrow to see if it loosens them up! There is no room to hardly turn a ratchet either on top of that!

 

PB blaster and torch those biznatches

 

what he said also if you got a air rachet thay work good too just watch it when it kicks and dont go throw the condenser for the ac

 

i use a breaker bar about 24" long when i do them and i have never had a problem

 

wimps!

i used a regular ole wrench on them without taking the bumper off, using heat, or PB...

 

I never had tow hooks to take off :(

Now I do though!

 

Spray on some WD40 and let it sit for a few, wipe off, then go to town with a breaker bar. I had similar issues when Justin and I put on/took off a rear hitch!

Success

 

I guess I'm gonna gave to break down and take bumper off...because I can't get an leverage, but even so how do u if the bols are on backside of crossmember?

 

tow hooks are for girls!!!! Hitches are where its at!


No really though you're gonna have to take the bumper off and probably use a breaker bar.

 

just heat the bolts til they turn red and they will come out like butter

 

I had to take the bumper off. I used a little pb but they were still a pain. take the top bolt out 1st. seemed like it worked easier that way for me anyways

 

Heat is your friend.

 

i did the same thing at a junkyard, only had a stubby ratchet on me as well

 

i used a ratchet, No PB no heat, did take FOREVER because theirs barley any room for the ratchet to move.

 

Ill tell u what, this is PATHETIC! There is no sense in the location and difficulty of these bolts. I got one switched out (driver side). All I have left is passenger side which I will get tommorow. I took grille off to see better and am using a long extension and ratchet. Driver side is easy bc there is tons of room for it. Passenger side is a different story!

The damn tranny cooler is in the way as well as horn to be able to get good leverage. So I unbolted them and got them outta the way. Then I couldn't find a 15mm deep socket for a 1/2" drive or whatever it is. The 3/8" drive sockets give to easy. I have two bolts broke loose, the bolt that bolts into front of crossmember is giving me a fit!! That's all I lack. So tomorrow I'm going to get a 15mm deep socket and it shouldn't take long. I tried a shorty extension but that was too long and the regularly socket is too short. Once I get these damn thins on, they're not coming back off! Pics tomorrow...uggggggg! End rant

 

fail

 

LOL I just did the EXACT same thing! Got the driver side installed and looking good then decided to just say screw it and come back to it in the morning.

 

did you sell the black ones? if not I might be interested in them

 

Cody I'm pretty sure he already sold them. You can take mine if you want.

 

they black? in good condition? PM me

 

WTF, I sprayed WD, breaker bar 20 mins later and they came off like girl scout cookies after a few brewskys!

 

Got up early this morning and headed to the shop and got a start on the tow hooks. I got the driver side put on last night and got so aggravated that i gave up on the passenger side. The passenger side is no joke, no room to work and stupid header panel was in the way. i got all but one bolt off and it was STUCK! When I took and impact gun to it and it didn't budge, i knew i was in trouble! i pb blasted it and even tried long breaker bar with no luck. Finally got mad at it and took a stubby wrench and a dead blow hammer and got the job done. You know after i broke it loose, it was still so tight and hung that the impact wrench and breaker bar still didn't touch it! I had to hammer it until is was almost all the way out. Call me wimp or whatever, but it was seriously held tight! Anyways on to the pics! Look past dirty truck, its been raining all week and yes i know i need to get bump in bumper fixed!

 

Looks good!

 

Looks good. Check out the picture of mine.

 

You know you could have saved yourself $60 if you just bought a can of this and then polished them, or if you just bought some "chrome" spray paint.