Stripped Steering Box Bolt

[Philprof]

I installed my JCR bumper with tie brackets. As I was re-installing the steering box, the upper bolt stripped. I stopped as soon as I felt it give.

two questions:

1. how big of a deal is this? is it urgent that I fix it? undriveable?

2. What is the best way to fix it?

I saw one other thread on this that seemed inconclusive. Any one run into this?

thanks

adam

 

[old_man]

No offroad or fast turns until you fix it.

Helicoil the hole and everything will be better than new.

 

[Philprof]

Good place to get the helicoil? Size needed, if known?

thanks again

 

[monkeyevil]

Size is 7/16 - 14

 

[old_man]

In a pinch you could drill out the box and put a nut on the other side. I would either double nut it our use a nyloc.

 

[Veeb0rg]

sounds like a good excuse for a durango box upgrade.

 

[monkeyevil]

In a pinch you could drill out the box and put a nut on the other side. I would either double nut it our use a nyloc.

Top hole is pretty tight for a nut.

 

[blue95xj]

Good place to get the helicoil? Size needed, if known?

thanks again

Napa has them.

 

[old_man]

Don't know if you guys have Ace Hardwares out there, but around here they have the helicoil sets.

Before you drop a bunch of coin for a box, maybe a pull-n-save yard might be an option.

 

[Philprof]

Getting a kit tomorrow for 7/16-14...thanks for the advice. The steering box is actually new (rebuilt)

 

[Ghost]

If it was me i would drill and tap all three holes for 1/2 - 20 and replace all the bolts with grade 8 hardware.

 

[Cleaner]

When I broke two bolts off in the box I ended up drilling and tapping them and going with 1/2" Grade 8 Hardware. Quick and fairly easy! Most of the bolts are a little tight to get a nut on the end of them.....even the bottom ones.

 

[old_man]

If you go to 1/2", I don't recommend 20 tip. They get messed up too easily with rust. Stick with the coarse thread. 20 tpi is sometimes harder to get in the grade 8 as well.

 

[Ghost]

If you go to 1/2", I don't recommend 20 tip. They get messed up too easily with rust. Stick with the coarse thread. 20 tpi is sometimes harder to get in the grade 8 as well.

My mistake. Old man is correct. 1/2" 16 is it?

 

[bryweb]

Hate to stir up an old thread, but 1/2" x 13 TPI (4" long) was what was common at both Tractor Supply and Home Depot for bolts, as well as a tap. I will be drilling out a stripped one tomorrow with what I got.

 

[lazyxj]

Hate to stir up an old thread, but 1/2" x 13 TPI (4" long) was what was common at both Tractor Supply and Home Depot for bolts, as well as a tap.

1/2" x 13 TPI is the SAE course thread size.
1/2" X 20 TPI is the SAE fine thread size.

 

[bryweb]

My mistake. Old man is correct. 1/2" 16 is it?

The discussion was to use Course over Fine thread, and Ghost said 1/2" at 16tpi ?, I was just saying that 13tpi was the common coarse thread found at the hardware stores.

 

[Ghost]

The discussion was to use Course over Fine thread, and Ghost said 1/2" at 16tpi ?, I was just saying that 13tpi was the common coarse thread found at the hardware stores.

I was and still am never very good at the difference in which is which for each size..... Kind of glad this came up. I've got a box to install on my new project and was wondering what size the bolts were....... 7/16 x 4" is standard?

 

[bryweb]

7/16 14tpi (threads per inch), 4" long is standard, MAKE SURE ITS GRADE 8 !!!!! I just bought two yesterday for the good threaded holes, then the stripped hole is getting drilled and tapped for a 1/2" bolt instead of putting a helicoil in.