Rock rail help

[trevor78]

Ok guys I need some helpful ideas. I need to remove my factory rock rails to strip them and paint them, the salt this year has taking its toll on them. The problem happens when I go to remove the 9/16th nuts the bolts just spin and with no access hole to the head of the bolt there no easy way that I can see to get them off and back on. Have you guys found and easy way to do this..

[w2dodge]

I have a set I havent installed...but to remove them..id have them on stands walk the r.r.s out and and use a vise grip to get the nuts off...and walk the r.r.s out more and wrap some tape around bolts so they dont drop into the frame..

[TwinStick]

They are a HUGE PITA to put on & prob 3x as hard to remove after exposed to salt & rust. I also have a brand new set that i have not installed yet. (Sorry-not for sale) Dealer was already in-the-know & told me there was no f'n way they were going to put them on unless i paid by-the-hour for EACH employee & that it would take 2-4 people an entire 8 hr day to install.

IMHO, the best way may be to try to tack-weld the bolt or nut (which ever applies) to the frame first. Originally the square part of the carriage bolts went into the square holes of the frame & that is what kept them from spinning. Impact wrenches can round out that square hole or the square part of the carriage bolt in an instant.

If i had it to do over, I would prob buy aftermarket sliders that bolt around the frame with u-bolts or something similar. After i have mine modified with nerf bar/tree side slider & some diamond plate (to look kinda like a running board) i was thinking of triple powder coat, then bed liner & spray the interior with some Fluid Film.

[Cactus Red]

I don't even want to think about taking them off... As mentioned, they are a nightmare to install, and the removal process would be way worse.

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[TonkaPW]

If i had it to do over, I would prob buy aftermarket sliders that bolt around the frame with u-bolts or something similar. After i have mine modified with nerf bar/tree side slider & some diamond plate (to look kinda like a running board) i was thinking of triple powder coat, then bed liner & spray the interior with some Fluid Film.

I got a set from White Knuckle Off Road and love them. Well worth the money I paid for them.

[BlkWgn]

I got a set from White Knuckle Off Road and love them. Well worth the money I paid for them.

Good to hear, I just ordered a set last week

[05PWrockcrawler]

White knuckle all the way. I got the .188 DOM because I abuse my truck lol


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[MSCH2112]

oh my. i would just let the rust away and NOT remove them.

mike

[vanished]

Scuff and spray bed liner!


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[Will]

I'd get some visqueen and tape and do the best I could to them and leave them on the truck!

[Cactus Red]

Once it warms up, there are acid based products that convert rust to a stable oxide that can be painted. After that, POR15 would be my choice as a base coat, and it can be applied in place with a brush.

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[VA_Wagon Man]

Once it warms up, there are acid based products that convert rust to a stable oxide that can be painted. After that, POR15 would be my choice as a base coat, and it can be applied in place with a brush.

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This would be my recommendation. There is no way I would have removed mine, ever. All I ever did was sanded them and sprayed bed liner on them. I usually sanded them down with boulders. 80 Grit would work too......

[Cactus Red]

http://www.amazon.com/PPG-Rust-Converte ... B002ABL3PS

I've used a product similar to this on sliders I've made. Prior to painting, I apply it to the bare steel to acid etch it and convert any rust prior to paint. It works!