How to remove stuck seatbolts (replacing CJ seats)

danattherock

Active Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Location
NC
Bought new front/rear seats and carpet kit. Suspect these bolts won't all come out. How do you remove them if stuck? Don't have an angle grinder. Not sure how to "drill out" a bolt. But I doubt all these bolts are going to just come out with a socket wrench. Any suggestions.

Also, where could I get new bolts? Can't find them anywhere online. Been looking for two days. I would like to replace them when putting in the new seats. Might make this job easier next time.
 
I would say soak them with penetrating oil several times before starting and get a breaker bar and have at it. They shouldn't be that bad to get out.
 
I just used an air impact and they all came out fairly easy. Try that with some penetrating oil. If that doesn't work, let us know. I'm sure someone has had come up with a creative way of removing
 
If you want to replace them, take one of the old ones to Tractor Supply, or Lowes, etc and match it up. I always use grade 8, but grade 5 should be plenty strong for a seat mount.
 
Even an old CJ that looks as good as yours is bound to have some rusted hardware :( If you are talking about the seat bracket to tub bolts, I would probably just cut them to begin with and put new ones in, easier than messing with them and by the time you round off a couple trying to get them out you'll need to replace them anyway :)

If you are going to be doing some of this type repair on your own, go ahead and invest in an expensive angle grinder. You can use a cut off wheel (thinner than the grinding wheel) to cut the bolts and you will need it again at some point, trust me ;)
 
The bolts go in to weld on nuts on the bottom of the tub and inside the frrame rail (on the 2 inners on either side) go ahead and plan on the weld on nuts breaking the welds loose. Then you need to hold from the bottom with another wrnech.

As said Lowes, tractor supply etc for the hardware they are just regular bolts.

if they break loose you will also need fender washers on the bottom side.
 
yeah I agree with john... you probably should just cut them out and start with new bolts. I found a nice bosch angle grinder at home depot on sale for only $30. it will pay for itself in the long run. its a very useful tool
 
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