Loose Skid Plate...

[coldday]

The skid plate on my 99 Rodeo is loose. There are 4 bolts and washers that mount it to the front frame. Most of the threads appear to be stripped to varying degrees. I like to blame a quicky oil lube place long ago for that.

Question: easiest way to rectify?

1) drill out and re-tap to next larger size? (not very easy, requires tap)
2) buy next size bolts and torque those in
3) ?

Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

[amigo-2k]

I would start with buying the same size bolts and see if that fixes it.

[5throdeo]

Originally Posted by coldday

The skid plate on my 99 Rodeo is loose. There are 4 bolts and washers that mount it to the front frame. Most of the threads appear to be stripped to varying degrees. I like to blame a quicky oil lube place long ago for that.

Question: easiest way to rectify?

1) drill out and re-tap to next larger size? (not very easy, requires tap)
2) buy next size bolts and torque those in
3) ?

Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

To me there are 4 ways to go---try much shorter bolts--if you can do it buy smaller bolts w/ lock washers and nuts ,put them thru the holes and put the washer and nuts on the smaller bolts--if you don't drive off road just leave it off--the one i would do is buy a thread tap for the threads and retap them, install new bolts.