Cat Shield Install... broke a bolt off, how important to fix?

[6439Flouride]

Installed some catalytic converter shields the other day. All I can say is, I wish I had better tools, particularly appropriate power tools.

Anyway, on one side, I broke off a bolt (circle at the bottom). I also forgot to put washers under the security bolts (circle at the top).

Assuming I do not offroad with this truck, how big of a deal is the broken bolt?

The broken piece is probably 1/2" inside the bolt hole.

The washers under the security bolts, again, how big of a deal?

 

[Humble Leader]

can you drill the bolt out? you could drill and then retap and probably use the same size bolt. I'd add the washers while you're under there

to answer your question you will probably be fine if you wanted to call it a day. drilling that bolt out shouldn't be too difficult

 

[6439Flouride]

Happily the mechanic was able to use a snap chisel to get the broken end of the bolt out pretty easily, no drilling. Everything all good now.

I did not even know such a tool existed, but it was effective for this. He said there was a little bit of metal sticking up where it broke off, just had to get it moving.

 

[gordonp]

ARP bolt for diagonal brace-bolts near catalytic converters

I am really glad to see you and your mechanic solved your broken-bolt problem, [MENTION=799837]6439Flouride[/MENTION]. YAY!

In a similar vein:
I installed a Catalytic Shield from All Precision & Custom (it's a one-piece lightweight "skid-plate" that runs full-width). Same Security bolts (allen-head, to slow the thieves).

Catalytic Converter Shields - Protect Your Catalytic Converter

After a couple of removals / re-installs (primarily to grease the front drive-shaft U-joints), I managed to round-out two of the Allen sockets in the Security bolts :frusty:

I had to drill + extract. Then ran a tap through things to tidy up the threads.

And my Final Solution:
I replaced ALL those 8 bracket-bolts you indicate with ARP stainless, high-strength bolts. ARP 761-1003 Stainless Steel M8 x 1.25 Thread 30mm UHL 6-Point Bolt with 10mm Socket and Washer. ARP Stainless 300 material and have a tensile strength of 170,000 psi, compared to Grade 8 (SAE) or Grade 10.9 (metric) at around 150,000 psi.

The Official ARP Web Site | Kits

It works for me. YMMV.

 

[6439Flouride]

A few years ago I watched as a couple thieves stole the catalytic converters out of our first-gen Sequoia. Took them about three minutes and cost about $1500 to repair.

Around that time, the local PD caught some different guy stealing cats on several consecutive nights, but with no-cash bail, as soon as the guy is out, he went right back to it. I'm sure, a common story.

So I was like, fool me once... and when I got this 4Runner, I immediately got the cat shields (very similar to the ones in the image upthread).

Anyway, while he was fixing my mistake, mechanic told me that I probably was wasting money on these because from what he hears, thefts are down quite a lot, at least in my local area. Apparently the recycling has become less lucrative somehow or another. He said they still want certain ones-- Prius for example-- but not 4Runner cats or Sequoia cats.

 

[Humble Leader]

A few years ago I watched as a couple thieves stole the catalytic converters out of our first-gen Sequoia. Took them about three minutes and cost about $1500 to repair.

Around that time, the local PD caught some different guy stealing cats on several consecutive nights, but with no-cash bail, as soon as the guy is out, he went right back to it. I'm sure, a common story.

So I was like, fool me once... and when I got this 4Runner, I immediately got the cat shields (very similar to the ones in the image upthread).

Anyway, while he was fixing my mistake, mechanic told me that I probably was wasting money on these because from what he hears, thefts are down quite a lot, at least in my local area. Apparently the recycling has become less lucrative somehow or another. He said they still want certain ones-- Prius for example-- but not 4Runner cats or Sequoia cats.

the value of precious metals have fallen quite a bit. we also had a supply/demand issue during covid with the lockdowns. prices have fallen, demand has stabilized, more electric cars are out there without cats. it's simply not worth the effort for the thieves in most cases.

 

[6439Flouride]

the value of precious metals have fallen quite a bit. [...] it's simply not worth the effort for the thieves in most cases.

Good sig file: "A mistake that makes you humble is much better than an achievement that makes you arrogant"

I did the install without a lift. I used a couple of ramps to add maybe 6" of lift and was crawling around under the truck. Suffice it to say, this was a mistake that made me humble. I learned that I am too old to be crawling around for a job like that.

The image upthread is a screencap from the install instruction video. Not my image.

I was very grateful for the expertise of the mechanic, who made very quick work of this problem.

 

[Humble Leader]

Good sig file: "A mistake that makes you humble is much better than an achievement that makes you arrogant"

I did the install without a lift. I used a couple of ramps to add maybe 6" of lift and was crawling around under the truck. Suffice it to say, this was a mistake that made me humble. I learned that I am too old to be crawling around for a job like that.

The image upthread is a screencap from the install instruction video. Not my image.

I was very grateful for the expertise of the mechanic, who made very quick work of this problem.

having the right tools makes a huge difference. there are many times where I tried to save money by not buying a tool and ended up buying it anyway

 

[6439Flouride]

I had to take my 4Runner to the mechanic today for an unrelated issue and I asked one of his guys about the so-called "snap chisels" which they used to quickly fix my broken bolt problem. These are a set of the tools in question. If you look carefully there are two hardened steel ends connected by a spring in the middle.