Factory TE Skid Replacement for BudBuilt Skid... question?

[MeBe4running]

My factory TE skid has held up well and had taken a good bashing. I decided to treat myself, yes treat myself ($306.00) to a new BudBuilt front skid. Its a pretty fair price considering the quality of craftsmanship but its still a lot of moolah!

Well.... I have a problem. I was unfastening the factory skid and all went well despite the mud in the mouth,eye, ears etc... I lined up the BudBuilt skid and started to place the four bolt's in place that hold the skid up. Well, when it came to the front left bolt, it wouldn't fasten. Had a closer look to find the thread was worn RIGHT through, bar the last few threads at the end. YIKES! Sadly this is what can happen when you don't do your own oil changes as it certainly wasn't me.

So as it stands I can't install the budbuilt skid. Now fortunately Toyota, being the wise company they are, made the thread location replaceable (bolt on and not welded), albeit built within a skid bar that protects the front of the KDSS sway bar. THE QUESTION IS: Do I order a new one; which I cannot find for the life of me in the parts catalog? Or find a welder that can replace the thread bolt?

 

[Vegas]

Same thing happen after I installed my lift, I was putting on the last bolt on the skid plat and it just kept turning.... I went and got a tap and die kit to fix it and also replaced the bolt. It's good to know I can replace the thread location cause I am not sure how long my fix will last taking the skid plate on and off for oil changes... Been thinking about the Budbuilt front skid it has easy access flap/panel/mini door thingy... It's pricey but the quality of BUD products is impressive... Post pics after the install.

 

[Okki]

My vote would be for the welder and a new bolt/nut. It's unquestionably cheaper and with the chance being there that it gets stripped again by an overzealous mechanic spending mucho-toyota-money on a replacement part may be an initial waste. when you're replacing the 3rd nut you can always get a new part :wave:

Just because i can't really tell from the picture, it the hole threaded, or is there a nut welded on the back end of it? If you need to fill in the hole and re-thread that's a bit more of a pain, but possibly still the easier, faster, cheaper fix for the moment, but I'm not sure what the structural integrity guru's would say about that.

Okki

 

[aulen]

were all oil changes at the same place? Maybe talk/show to them. Maybe they'll go good for it??? :shrug:

 

[DannyLlama]

Are you selling your factory gas tank skid?!! :biggrin1:

 

[harper7]

My factory TE skid has held up well and had taken a good bashing. I decided to treat myself, yes treat myself ($306.00) to a new BudBuilt front skid. Its a pretty fair price considering the quality of craftsmanship but its still a lot of moolah!

Well.... I have a problem. I was unfastening the factory skid and all went well despite the mud in the mouth,eye, ears etc... I lined up the BudBuilt skid and started to place the four bolt's in place that hold the skid up. Well, when it came to the front left bolt, it wouldn't fasten. Had a closer look to find the thread was worn RIGHT through, bar the last few threads at the end. YIKES! Sadly this is what can happen when you don't do your own oil changes as it certainly wasn't me.

So as it stands I can't install the budbuilt skid. Now fortunately Toyota, being the wise company they are, made the thread location replaceable (bolt on and not welded), albeit built within a skid bar that protects the front of the KDSS sway bar. THE QUESTION IS: Do I order a new one; which I cannot find for the life of me in the parts catalog? Or find a welder that can replace the thread bolt?

So , I take it the nut was stripped out in the frame support . Probably somebody in a hurry used an impact wrench on it as I've had mine off at least 25 times and still work perfect .Any machine shop should be able to put a heli coil(google "heli coil") in it ,weld a new nut on or you can just buy a new support.We even use heli-coils in jet engines and are not hard to install if you have the right tools.We use high dollar silver plated ones for corrosion resistance with the built in locking feature though. If you were local I could put one in for you.

The supports look like they are about $80 or so a piece online. They made them bolt on/off for access to work on the front diff , rack and pinion,ect. and not necessarily so you can replace a stripped nut.These supports were not on 4th Gens and a part of Toyota's fix to beef up the front end where they were getting the front fender bulges in heavy use.

 

[MeBe4running]

Vegas

Same thing happen after I installed my lift, I was putting on the last bolt on the skid plat and it just kept turning.... I went and got a tap and die kit to fix it and also replaced the bolt. It's good to know I can replace the thread location cause I am not sure how long my fix will last taking the skid plate on and off for oil changes... Been thinking about the Budbuilt front skid it has easy access flap/panel/mini door thingy... It's pricey but the quality of BUD products is impressive... Post pics after the install.

Will post pictures.... do you happen to have the name of the tap and die kit you used or where your got it from?

Okki

My vote would be for the welder and a new bolt/nut. It's unquestionably cheaper and with the chance being there that it gets stripped again by an overzealous mechanic spending mucho-toyota-money on a replacement part may be an initial waste. when you're replacing the 3rd nut you can always get a new part

Just because i can't really tell from the picture, it the hole threaded, or is there a nut welded on the back end of it? If you need to fill in the hole and re-thread that's a bit more of a pain, but possibly still the easier, faster, cheaper fix for the moment, but I'm not sure what the structural integrity guru's would say about that.

Okki

Agreed. The nut is welded on the back, though it has a "lip" around it. Yes, I am a little nervous as to the re-thread option, primarily due to the increased weight of the budbuilt skid.

Aulen

were all oil changes at the same place? Maybe talk/show to them. Maybe they'll go good for it???

I like your thinking however sadly not the case. The oil changes have taken place all around the country. Still, thanks for the input!

DanyLlama

Are you selling your factory gas tank skid?!!

Selling no....giving away yes. Its yours if you want to pay the shipping, though I warn you its pretty bashed up. I'll post some pictures here for your viewing.

Harper7

So , I take it the nut was stripped out in the frame support . Probably somebody in a hurry used an impact wrench on it as I've had mine off at least 25 times and still work perfect .Any machine shop should be able to put a heli coil(google "heli coil") in it ,weld a new nut on or you can just buy a new support.We even use heli-coils in jet engines and are not hard to install if you have the right tools.We use high dollar silver plated ones for corrosion resistance with the built in locking feature though. If you were local I could put one in for you.

The supports look like they are about $80 or so a piece online. They made them bolt on/off for access to work on the front diff , rack and pinion,ect. and not necessarily so you can replace a stripped nut.These supports were not on 4th Gens and a part of Toyota's fix to beef up the front end where they were getting the front fender bulges in heavy use.

Yes that is correct, the nut was stripped out due to improper replacement after oil changes. Lesson learnt. "We even use heli-coils in jet engines and are not hard to install if you have the right tools.We use high dollar silver plated ones for corrosion resistance with the built in locking feature though. If you were local I could put one in for you". That's very kind of you.. shame I am not local as I would have taken you up on that in a heart beat!

Wow, $80.00 a pop, yikes, forget that option. "They made them bolt on/off for access to work on the front diff , rack and pinion,ect. and not necessarily so you can replace a stripped nut.These supports were not on 4th Gens and a part of Toyota's fix to beef up the front end where they were getting the front fender bulges in heavy use." Good to know, I never would of known that. Does your LE have them? I thought they where purely to protect the sway bar with Trail, KDSS equipped 4runner's? On an side note: Bud had nothing but great thing's to say about you Gary during my visit to BudBuilt and he even shared me some of your stories! I hope are paths will cross one day as the stories was awesome!

roberthollinger211

cheaper fix for the moment, but I'm not sure what the structural integrity guru's would say about that.http://www.edu.me/gu1.jpghttp://www...w.edu123.me/s5.jpghttp://www.edu123.me/ht.jpg

Thanks for sharing! I'll look into that as a possible temporary fix while the bracket is at the welder. Thanks for this posting link!

 

[MeBe4running]

Skid Thread Fixed!

I ended up re-threading the existing thread. I used a 5/16" tap and it worked a charm! You can buy these at any home improvement store. Thought I would post just for a future record.

Pic's to come of the skid installed as first I have to make x2 10mm threaded holes in the Budbuilt skid to accommodate the splash skid on my ARB bull bar.

 

[Vegas]

Sorry I missed your question on the tap and die....

I grabbed these at auto zone or maybe O'Reilly they worked great.