skid plate holes stripped, advice???

[HIMILESV8SPORT]

so as I'm coming up on 300k miles 2 of 4 front skid plate bolt holes are stripped. The front mount had been stripped since I got it and ran a bolt and nut. Rear mount has a nut welded inside i think. Anyone ever had to drill out and re-thread? Thanks in advance!!

 

[y=mx+b]

Anyone ever had to drill out and re-thread? Thanks in advance!!

Yeah its a pain in the butt. I hated drilling upside down and tapping by hand while pushing up. Maybe my drills and tapped were mediocre quality or something, but it was not very fun

For another project, I used something like this on some double layer 1/8" (so essentially 1/4") and they worked decent as long as you make sure to clear the chips by reversing and lube it up. They might be easier since it gets everything done in one sweep

 

[Tbasse01]

Tap em and use an oversize bolt if you are comfortable doing that

 

[xtremewlr]

I used Time-serts to fix the stripped holes. All 4 on my front skid were stripped. One on the front I couldn't save and ended up drilling it out to run a bolt and nut. The other 3 all have Time-serts. Sort of like Helicoil but better.

Amazon.com: Time-Sert M10x1.5 Thread Repair kit #1015: Home Improvement

 

[702tripgen]

You don't need to drill unless the bolts are stuck in there. Usually they just won't tighten.

Get a 8mmx1.25 tap and chase the threads out, get the same size bolt from lowes in stainless steel and you will be good to go. I think the length is 20mm.

 

[JH225]

I drilled and tapped all of mine to M10 just to have a bigger bolt. Stock thread is M8x1.25. I wanted to go that route but I couldn’t find one at ace hardware on a Sunday I was doing this, so I used M10x1.50.

I used my drill to tap instead of a tap handle by hand. You just need to use some thread cutting cream and go slow, in and out to remove chips.

Took me 30 min to do all of them.


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[yourfriendcasey]

I have the same problem.. 3 of my 4 bolts have snapped off, whoever changed the oil before i got it must have way overtightened them and now i’ve been driving with zip ties holding it on the last few weeks. I plan on just drilling them out and through-bolting with a longer 10mm and a nut/ washer. A bit more crude but i already snapped a couple bits trying to drill them out the other day- drilling metal at that angle sucks!

 

[TNFISHRMAN]

Rivet nuts

Check out a rivet nut kit. That's what I have used on mine and even a lot of farm equipment. Time-serts are great. Much better than heli-coils. I like the rivet nuts because I could use a larger drill bit and cut the frame and weld on the nut. I didn't have to be so precise drilling and tapping the nut welded inside the frame. They also sell stainless river nuts. Get you some corse thread stainless bolts for whatever size rivet nut you use. Be sure to put some never seize or grease on the threads of whatever bolts you use.

 

[JH225]

I have the same problem.. 3 of my 4 bolts have snapped off, whoever changed the oil before i got it must have way overtightened them and now i’ve been driving with zip ties holding it on the last few weeks. I plan on just drilling them out and through-bolting with a longer 10mm and a nut/ washer. A bit more crude but i already snapped a couple bits trying to drill them out the other day- drilling metal at that angle sucks!

Get some sharp bits. Go slow, start with small bits. Use some oil as cutting fluid.

Drill out for the next size up and use an M10 tap to retap for M10 bolts. No need to thru bolt.


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[mcaninch35]

I drilled the holes out with a metric 8.5mm drill bit, tapped with an M10x1.5 tap and replaced bolts with higher quality ones. Old motor oil for cutting fluid. Worked like a charm and very very easy

 

[patkelly4370]

Replace the bolts with studs. Easier to repair if stripped again

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[HIMILESV8SPORT]

Thanks everyone

Really digging the stud idea after going from M8 to M10

 

[firebirdguy]

Really digging the stud idea after going from M8 to M10

all posts above are good options to do this. i had 2 of the 4 front skid bolts break on mine & it was very easy to drill them out to just under the thread size & then use a tap of the original size to clean out the threads & buy new correct size bolts & use anti seize. going one size bigger is fine but not needed if you can save the original threads.

 

[Drift Monkey]

I used M8 rivnuts

 

[Travisstorma]

I drilled the factory nuts out and welded new nuts on top of the factory nuts.


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[RivMan]

I drilled / tapped to M10-1.5. It took less than 20 minutes, the stock bolts were a lot softer than I was expecting.

-Rob

 

[ScottM2025]

My 4th Gen 4R has stripped skip pan mounting nuts. Here is the best and perhaps more permanent means to fix this issue.
Brief:
- Went from the factory 8MM to a 10MM bolts
- After punching out welded in frame nut, they drill out frame hole to accom
modate the (4) M10 flanged Nuts, Tack weld in new flanged nuts in place.


How To Fix & Replace Broken Skid Plate Bolts 5th Gen Toyota 4Runner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEYsKxSo_xc

 

[J.A.]

How to Re-Tap Skid Plate Bolt Holes on a Toyota 4Runner

 

[88Center]

I drilled and tapped all of mine to M10 just to have a bigger bolt. Stock thread is M8x1.25. I wanted to go that route but I couldn’t find one at ace hardware on a Sunday I was doing this, so I used M10x1.50.

I used my drill to tap instead of a tap handle by hand. You just need to use some thread cutting cream and go slow, in and out to remove chips.

Took me 30 min to do all of them.

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I did the same thing.

Bought an affordable little Irwin tap set and a pack of M10 bolts from Amazon and worked great.

As he stated OP, be sure to use cutting oil and take your time. Watch a few videos on new tapping threads.

 

[inscarguy]

I heli-coiled mine. Been about 6 years now.