How to remove roofrack bolts?

[jjdbike]

Hi folks
I’m doing so mods & am trying to remove the bolts holding the roof rack side (lateral front-to rear) rails. Thet seem to be 12mm bolt heads but they also seem to have loc-tite from hell on them. How do I break that thread lock w/ out damaging the soft material (i.e. rubber gaskett) around them? I’ve already started (not completely but edges/corners are starting to round) to strip the one bolt head I’ve been trying to muscle out. This in and of it self created another problem which I don’t know how to fix.
Any hlep or advice is greatly appreciated!
JD

 

[Jhalko]

Can you post a picture? There is red lock tite on those bolts.

 

[jjdbike]

Thanks J.
Here's a photo of the rounded 12mm bolt head.
Any idea how to loosen that red loc-tite w/out damaging anything?
Also dunno what to do bout that rounded bolt head.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions & advice!
JD

 

[Redsoxx1918]

Lock tite is brutal. I wouldn't mess with it. Take it to a good garage and let them handle it.

I added some N Fab nerf bars and a few people suggested putting lock tite on the bolts. I didn't. I'd rather crawl under the truck a few times a year and snug down the bolts. If I ever wanted to remove the nerf bars, getting those bolts out would be very difficult.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EL3V8TE]

Thanks J.
Here's a photo of the rounded 12mm bolt head.
Any idea how to loosen that red loc-tite w/out damaging anything?
Also dunno what to do bout that rounded bolt head.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions & advice!
JD

Try heating up the bolt with a heat gun and then try removing it.

 

[GSD 4Runner]

You could try to use a 100/140 watt soldering gun to apply heat to the bolt. Hold in place for a few minutes then try to remove the bolt.

 

[philsey]

Thanks J.
Here's a photo of the rounded 12mm bolt head.
Any idea how to loosen that red loc-tite w/out damaging anything?
Also dunno what to do bout that rounded bolt head.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions & advice!
JD

Try Google "how to loosen loctite red" .... lotsa hits, no idea how good.

 

[The Waco Kid]

What tool were you using to remove it?

Mine were tough, but the right sized socket and a big ratchet did the trick.

I also vote taking it to shop. I'd be afraid of rounding it further.

 

[jmart]

hmm, I just removed those bolts over the weekend on my 2016 TEP without any trouble. The torque spec is only 17 ft-lbs, and they seemed to have only a small amount of loctite on them. Have your bolts possibly been removed/reinstalled with more loctite before? Just grasping at straws, really.

In situations such as yours in the past I've had luck with vise grips as tight as I can get them, and a careful application of force to slowly free the bolt. This chews up the bolt head, but it might work? I'd definitely be reluctant with any heat given all the rubber in the area as you mentioned.

Good luck!

 

[jbjones85]

I also just recently took mine off and did not have any real issue I do have a slightly longer than normal (16" i think) ratchet which does give me a little more torque but I didn't really have to work real hard to get them off.

 

[Gabex35]

A quality 6 point socket and heat will get that out.

you may need to extract the bolts if that doesn't work...which to be honest, if you were able to round those bolt heads, you might want to let someone else do it.

Those bolts have dogbone type nutplates underneath, it is my recommendation that you install the paired bolt in order to break the torque on the one you are having issues with. Otherise the nut plate may spin out of alignment. I had this happen to me on my FJ and it is pain in the ass to remedy.

Good luck!

 

[el_kab0ng]

Another idea is to leave your T4R out in the sun for an afternoon with the bolts exposed so they heat up naturally, then try again. I recently removed the bolts when installing a BajaRack on my '16 T4R without much of an issue following this method, but again, it seems like '16 owners don't have the same experience as you are having.

 

[MidwestJ]

Vise grips so as not to round off the bolt heads.

Then find a big leverage (cheater bar) to torque them loose. I like the sun/heat idea too.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Yeah, you did something wrong is my guess (wrong socket?).

I had mine off two weeks ago and they were not that difficult.

Also, they are held on (at least on my 2015 TE) with blue loctite and the receivers they screw into have plastic nipples.

 

[guitarsail]

They have Red Loctite, but they aren't that bad at all. I hit mine with a Dewalt driver and they came right out.

 

[jwkilgore]

What have you been trying that ate that head up so much?

If you tell us what you've already tried that could help with suggestions.