NorthwoodsRunner
New member
A few days before the 2016 Thanksgiving, I bought a pair of OEM running boards (new takeoffs at 50% off the MSRP) from another 2016 SR5 owner. These running boards already had the mounting brackets on so I thought this should be an easy job since all I had to do was align and bolt to complete the installation.
My stupidities (and laziness) and lessons learned:
1. Should have mounted the brackets first instead of trying to save 10 minutes by trying to install the whole running board. Alignment is much easier without the running board load on the bracket.
2. Should not have assumed that the bolt treads were clean and chased (repaired the tread using M8 x 1.25 Irwin Hanson Die) unless buying a brand new set.
3. Should have stopped immediately when the bolt did not go in smoothly and easy. The welded nut inside the frame (the one closest to the front passenger side) sheared off when one bolt was not properly aligned. Luckily, I was able to access that nut (13mm) using a low profile and skinny 13mm Mac Tools combination wrench. You have to insert (via the access hole) the whole wrench (open end first) inside to be leveled with the nut inside.
4. While holding onto the 13mm wrench with a set of pliers, you will need to rotate the bolt until it is aligned and locked against the open end.
5. Once locked, you can unscrew the 12mm bolt with a ratchet. You can use a magnet or coat hanger to retrieve the sheared off 13mm nut.
6. Re-tap the 13mm nut and chase the 8Mx1.25 bolt.
7. Clean the nut then tape a paint masking tape around the side of the 13mm nut so that open end can hold the nut tight until you can align and guide bolt into the nut.
8. Insert (via access hole) the combination wrench along with the nut then align and tighten the bolt until tight.
9. Take out the wrench then insert the plug cover the access hole.
10. Periodically re torque these bracket and running board bolts (12 per side or 24 bolts).
My stupidities (and laziness) and lessons learned:
1. Should have mounted the brackets first instead of trying to save 10 minutes by trying to install the whole running board. Alignment is much easier without the running board load on the bracket.
2. Should not have assumed that the bolt treads were clean and chased (repaired the tread using M8 x 1.25 Irwin Hanson Die) unless buying a brand new set.
3. Should have stopped immediately when the bolt did not go in smoothly and easy. The welded nut inside the frame (the one closest to the front passenger side) sheared off when one bolt was not properly aligned. Luckily, I was able to access that nut (13mm) using a low profile and skinny 13mm Mac Tools combination wrench. You have to insert (via the access hole) the whole wrench (open end first) inside to be leveled with the nut inside.
4. While holding onto the 13mm wrench with a set of pliers, you will need to rotate the bolt until it is aligned and locked against the open end.
5. Once locked, you can unscrew the 12mm bolt with a ratchet. You can use a magnet or coat hanger to retrieve the sheared off 13mm nut.
6. Re-tap the 13mm nut and chase the 8Mx1.25 bolt.
7. Clean the nut then tape a paint masking tape around the side of the 13mm nut so that open end can hold the nut tight until you can align and guide bolt into the nut.
8. Insert (via access hole) the combination wrench along with the nut then align and tighten the bolt until tight.
9. Take out the wrench then insert the plug cover the access hole.
10. Periodically re torque these bracket and running board bolts (12 per side or 24 bolts).
Last edited:
