How to re-attach fender flares with broken bolts

I'm removing the fender flares on my 2000 xj to paint them. I started spraying PB Blaster on them yesterday morning. I was feeling impatient today and went to check if the nuts would loosen. Guess what happened? The first one snapped. I stopped after that, because I didn't want to do any more damage. Now that I've broken one, should i just try to take them off and just not worry if they break because I'm already going to have to fix the one that's broken? Or should I wait patiently and hope I don't break any more?

I've been trying to find the best way to fix/re-attach the flares if you break the bolts and all that I've been able to find is something about drilling out a bracket and using regular nuts and bolts. If this is the best way can someone elaborate on it for me? I'm not sure what bracket this would be (haven't fully removed the flare.

I broke half of them on each wheel well when I tried this. The easiest fix was just to buy the replacement parts:

http://www.quadratec.com/jeep-replacement-parts/jeep-body/xj-exterior.php

Mine was a '92 so I could buy just the HW kit:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/72514_8900.htm

Not sure if this will work for you but the parts below seem to be the same thing for the later model years:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/72608_9001.htm
http://www.quadratec.com/products/72608_9000.htm

HTH
Todd

Either they break or they don't.

Grind off the head of the broken threaded stud, tap out the remains from the hole in the bracket, and JB Weld a regular bolt into the hole.

Install the brackets into the flares, adjust the tabs if needed, and mount them both at once as a single unit onto the Cherokee.

Tim_MN said:

Either they break or they don't.

Grind off the head of the broken threaded stud, tap out the remains from the hole in the bracket, and JB Weld a regular bolt into the hole.

Install the brackets into the flares, adjust the tabs if needed, and mount them both at once as a single unit onto the Cherokee.

Click to expand...

I did this exact thing on the MJ. Took about an hour...not counting drying time for thr JB. Overnight. Think it cost about $20 for stainless steel nuts/bolts and JB.

They're in...and they're staying on!!

I was in this same situation. I decided that I was going to break them all off and replace. I just tightened them until the bolts snapped off... 10 minutes later they were all done. No spraying, no waiting. Why bother?

I had someone with a drill press drill out new holes for me(before I had my own drill) and just put new bolts in. Qudratec is great and all but they are close to a $100 for just the metal parts plus they don't sell them for 97+ that I remember.

I ground em out and tack welded new ones in.

You can also use washers and #10 hardware iirc, maybe fender washers. Or buy new stud strips (there are 6) for like 70 bucks a side online.