Difficulty installing BB Sliders

[jemel]

Hi all,

I've been trying to install BB sliders on my truck following the several posts I have found on the subject but am getting snagged by two things:

1) The gas tank skid has a bolt behind the driveshaft. I am having a really hard time removing it. I don't have enough room for a socket. The last battle of wrench vs bolt the bolt won, breaking the wrench. On top of that, with a wrench I am regardless having difficulty with leverage.

2) The front plate of the driver's slider needs to be maneuvered around the KDSS tubes. I have been completely unsuccessful in this. Pushing the slider back causes the other side of the plate to hit the body frame mount but there still isn't enough room to clear the tubes. I can't push the slider up either because it's hitting the body again. I'm not sure how to get around this.

The passenger side looks like it will be a very simple job but I want to tack the driver side first. It would look pretty crappy to have a slider installed on one side but not the other! :ybrick:

I had my dealership give me a quote for the install if they did it. They estimate $475 + tax. This is too steep to settle well with me.

Do I pay the dealership to do it? Do I take another crack at it? Any suggestions or tips to help me through this?

 

[mrvandelay]

I didnt remove the skid, I just took out one bolt and manhandled the slider mount under it.

 

[Intruder]

Been a while since I did mine... I did the sliders at the same time as the BB skids, so I already had the stock ones off when I mounted the sliders. Don't recall having any great difficulty with the bolts. Did you try something like liquid wrench on the one you're having trouble with? Not sure how you broke a wrench, but I'd try a regular box wrench instead of a ratcheting one for a bolt like that. Can you post a pic of it?

For the KDSS lines, you need to unbolt them from the frame then try to pry them away enough to slide the mounting plate of the slider underneath it. Then bolt the KDSS back onto the slider. This part is much easier with a friend helping as one of you pulls the KDSS lines away and the other moves the slider in place.

 

[jemel]

Here are a few pictures to help illustrate part of the problem.
The first pic is the hard to reach gas tank skid bolt. The large, blurry object in the bottom half of the pic is the driveshaft practically on the lens of the camera.

I have the slider rear up on jack stands and the front on a floor jack. The second pic is the plate not being able to clear the KDSS tubes. I can't move the slider forward anymore because of pic 3 - the mud guard. Even if removed, however, I still need to move the slider up more and the trim will block that.

Pic 4 also shows the edge of the slider's rear panel getting close to the KDSS tubes coming from the hydraulic pump. The plate will almost go in between the tube and the frame, but it can't quite make it because the tubes in the front are preventing the front plate moving inward.

Hope this puts a better picture of what I am trying, and maybe I'm going about this wrong and a better way exists? Hopefully?

 

[Okki]

I can't speak for the KDDS stuff since I have a limited, but I was able to use a socket with an extension to undo and remove that gas tank skid bolt. I've had it out again this summer when I had to remove a dent from that skid after my trip to the FJ Summit.

I approach that bolt from the passenger side but I can't remember if I have the socket extension on the driver or passenger side of the drive shaft.

Hope this helps.

Okki

 

[Intruder]

Pic 4 also shows the edge of the slider's rear panel getting close to the KDSS tubes coming from the hydraulic pump. The plate will almost go in between the tube and the frame, but it can't quite make it because the tubes in the front are preventing the front plate moving inward.

Ok, I have no pics to compare with and I'm in the office with my truck down in the parkade, but are you sure you have the sliders for a KDSS truck? Bud has two versions of all his sliders - one for KDSS and one for those without KDSS.

 

[Vegas]

Ok, I have no pics to compare with and I'm in the office with my truck down in the parkade, but are you sure you have the sliders for a KDSS truck? Bud has two versions of all his sliders - one for KDSS and one for those without KDSS.

This might be the issue.... Been awhile for me installing them...

I have KDSS and I tried to be lazy and not take off the skid plates... Ended up taking them down, made life way easier... I think to get past the KDSS I had to jack up the slider between the KDSS to slide against the frame...

Let me go take some pics to see if they can help you out as a reference point.

 

[jemel]

Ok, I have no pics to compare with and I'm in the office with my truck down in the parkade, but are you sure you have the sliders for a KDSS truck? Bud has two versions of all his sliders - one for KDSS and one for those without KDSS.

Yes, I specified that I had KDSS when I placed the order. You can also see in this thread that the poster's sliders are the same as mine:
Budbuilt Bump Out Rock Sliders - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

I believe the poster is on this forum as well and remember seeing the thread before.

Now, after tinkering around a bit more I did finally manage to get the plate behind the pipes! I removed the mud guard, put the rear end of the slider on a jack, and held the front end while I worked it around the pipes. I had to push forward a lot on the trim, but it's somewhat flexible plastic. I finally managed to seat it correctly behind the pipes but then I realized my original plan would no longer work.

I planned on pinning the front with a bolt to act as a fulcrum and work the gas tank skid down and around the bottom plate of the slider but there's very little room to maneuver the slider once you do that, so I definitely need to remove or shift the skid away first.

Unfortunately this is my daily driver (read: only vehicle) so I can't leave it partially set up. I have to wait until next weekend. I'll update this thread when I resume work on the sliders. Thanks for the help everyone, and stay tuned!

 

[Vegas]

Looks like you figure it out... Not sure if it will help but here you go.

 

[jemel]

Sorry for the late update: been crazy busy at work lately.

I managed to get the sliders installed on Saturday, though I'm a little concerned with some bolts I was unable to get in.

On the driver's side, one bolt on the rear panel, lower front hole, was too misaligned to get it in. The hole is slightly too low, and it looks like the plate is simply angled slightly more than it should be. I attempted to jack the front lip to no avail: it's strong enough that I'm lifting the whole vehicle. For the front plate, has anyone managed to get the bolt between the KDSS lines? I'm going to have one of the bolts shortened to see if I can get the head past the lines and wrench it in, but right now the lines act like a clamp on the head of the bolt. The last one is one of the mounts for the rear KDSS tubing, I think I just need a smaller washer so I don't crush and warp it.

Passenger side I also need a smaller washer for one of the front plate holes because it is too close to the weld joint.

Should I even be concerned with these few bolts? I tested them by climbing up, walking back and forth on the slider, and jumping on them without so much as a creak (I'm nearly 300lbs).

Thanks for the pics, Vegas, they really helped with the placement of everything. My installation also has the pushed back rear mini mudguards and the inability to secure the KDSS mount that's right above the tube.

I'll try to get some pics tonight.

 

[Intruder]

On the driver's side, one bolt on the rear panel, lower front hole, was too misaligned to get it in. The hole is slightly too low, and it looks like the plate is simply angled slightly more than it should be.

There were a couple bolts I couldn't get either. Seem to remember one being misaligned and another where there was nothing to thread to on the inside of the frame rail. If you're missing one or two out of the dozen bolts on each slider I don't think it's going to make much difference. I've used my sliders heavily and hilifted off them with no issues yet.

For the front plate, has anyone managed to get the bolt between the KDSS lines? I'm going to have one of the bolts shortened to see if I can get the head past the lines and wrench it in, but right now the lines act like a clamp on the head of the bolt. The last one is one of the mounts for the rear KDSS tubing, I think I just need a smaller washer so I don't crush and warp it.

Passenger side I also need a smaller washer for one of the front plate holes because it is too close to the weld joint.

I recall having to reuse the factory washer for one of the KDSS lines. I think there was another washer I trimmed and one I bent so they'd fit.

 

[eddiebx]

Jemel, I have the same exact misaligned bolt as you have mentioned on the drivers side, I just left it off because I figured there's enough other bolts holding it on. And also yes some of the bolts required smaller washers for the exact reasons as you have stated.