Removing plastic piece on running boards

[surfh2o]

I'm trying to remove the plastic piece covering the top of the running boards. There is another plastic piece that goes from the wheel well over the running boards. I can't get these off cause the bolt underneath just turns in place. I've tried PB blaster and no go. I've tried prying up on the plastic while turning the ratchet and it still spins. Any ideas how I get this off?

 

[Qyota]

Maybe cut the nut/bolt off with a grinder or dremel? I guess it might be hard to replace that fastener though. I'd let it soak in a bath of PB overnight.

 

[broncosi]

I hope you didn't cut it off yet. I had the same problem taking my plastic pieces off. I took vise grip plyers and tightened them to clamp onto the bolt I was using the ratchet on(I think 10mm). Then if you feel behind where the bolt is you should feel another one threaded on there that is the same size. Just stick the vise grips back there and clamp down on the bolt you can't see, then ratchet away on the bolt you can see while holding the vise grips still. Most all of my bolts were like this and I had to use the vise grips on them.

Hope this helps!

 

[TheDurk]

Been there, done that and just had to pry the sucker off the nuts. Rust under the long plastic piece turned out to be way more serious than I expected. Left the whole board on the garage floor for a few months and drove with one while I thought over the problem.

Then! The brilliant solution! Take the other one off and put 'em both in the basement. I don't miss them a bit.....
__________________

 

[surfh2o]

Thanks guys. I'm not 100% sure what you're saying Broncosi, but next time I get to look at the truck I'll try to figure it out using the clamps.

 

[broncosi]

I can take some pictures and do a mini write up if your interested?

 

[surfh2o]

If you don't mind that would be really cool.

 

[broncosi]

ok so finally got a crappy picture, its hard because its inside the wheel well. What you see in the picture is the nut(10mm, same as the bolt your unscrewing out of it). What i suggested was to take a pair of vise grips and clamp them onto that nut so it doesn't move, while you ratchet the bolt from the outside. Does that make any more sense?

 

[surfh2o]

I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing. I stole a pic to show you. The 2 plastic pieces go over the running boards in the front and back. Where it says nuts, they are located underneath the running boards and just spin in place. The nut underneat is the only part I can get to.

 

[surfh2o]

It didn't post my pics.........

 

[surfh2o]

Of course now I have doubles........cool

 

[Qyota]

It looks like you might have to remove the entire running board to remove those plastic pieces. I'm not sure how else you'd do it.

 

[surfh2o]

Yeah I might have to remove the whole running board. That may help to get to it better, but the plastic top of the running boards still resides under the 2 plastic pieces in question.

 

[broncosi]

no those 2 smaller pieces come off first. I know those bolts your talking about and yes they should just screw off in theory. However when i got to my other side, they had been broken off and that front piece was only held on by the bolts in the wheel well.