Hi guys,
After struggling with my fender flares all day I thought I'd do a quick write up to save everyone else some time and frustration so you don't run into the same mistakes I made.
My project today was to put Rubicon flares on my TJ. It wouldn't pass inspection with stock flares because in PA the tires have to be covered and my 33's were sticking out a few inches. The Rubicon flares are 1" wider than stock so they were perfect... so, heres the problem I ran into... when I tried to unbolt my flares, almost every bolt just spun. This is because the thread-serts in the tub/body were all broken loose. To solve the problem I got out the grinder and easily ground the heads off the bolts. Once the heads were gone the flares came off and the thread-serts all fell into the tub. Now I had to figure out a way to get the new flares on the jeep and this is where I hit trouble.
At first I went to Napa to buy a tool to put new thread-serts in. They didn't have one, and the guy said that you can only get that tool at body shop supply stores and it was approx. $200... ok fine, I thought. I couldn't think of any other solutions and the guy there suggested I use rivets. I didn't want to use rivets but I thought, "oh well it's the only choice I have"... Once I got home with some rivets I realized that there was no way in hell I was getting the rivet gun under the flares... ok, now I was pissed off and had no idea what to do... this is where I finally found out the right way to fix the problem.
I went to the local hardware store and the guy introduced me to well-nuts.
Well Nuts For Signicade, Plasticade Signs - Neoplex
these little beauties are rubber grommets with brass thread inserts in them, so you put the grommet in the body and stick a bolt through it. As you tighten the bolt, the rubber flares out making it impossible to pull the grommet out. It is similar to a rivet or molly screw but it is really a nice tight fit. It worked perfectly. Now all of my flares are held very securely with these well-nuts. I just had to pass this on to everyone because if I knew to go straight to the well-nuts I would have saved myself a ton of time. I hope this helps... I meant to take some pictures, but it was 11 degrees outside today and I did the whole job without gloves. So, I was hurrying to get done instead of take pictures, haha.
Dan
After struggling with my fender flares all day I thought I'd do a quick write up to save everyone else some time and frustration so you don't run into the same mistakes I made.
My project today was to put Rubicon flares on my TJ. It wouldn't pass inspection with stock flares because in PA the tires have to be covered and my 33's were sticking out a few inches. The Rubicon flares are 1" wider than stock so they were perfect... so, heres the problem I ran into... when I tried to unbolt my flares, almost every bolt just spun. This is because the thread-serts in the tub/body were all broken loose. To solve the problem I got out the grinder and easily ground the heads off the bolts. Once the heads were gone the flares came off and the thread-serts all fell into the tub. Now I had to figure out a way to get the new flares on the jeep and this is where I hit trouble.
At first I went to Napa to buy a tool to put new thread-serts in. They didn't have one, and the guy said that you can only get that tool at body shop supply stores and it was approx. $200... ok fine, I thought. I couldn't think of any other solutions and the guy there suggested I use rivets. I didn't want to use rivets but I thought, "oh well it's the only choice I have"... Once I got home with some rivets I realized that there was no way in hell I was getting the rivet gun under the flares... ok, now I was pissed off and had no idea what to do... this is where I finally found out the right way to fix the problem.
I went to the local hardware store and the guy introduced me to well-nuts.
Well Nuts For Signicade, Plasticade Signs - Neoplex
these little beauties are rubber grommets with brass thread inserts in them, so you put the grommet in the body and stick a bolt through it. As you tighten the bolt, the rubber flares out making it impossible to pull the grommet out. It is similar to a rivet or molly screw but it is really a nice tight fit. It worked perfectly. Now all of my flares are held very securely with these well-nuts. I just had to pass this on to everyone because if I knew to go straight to the well-nuts I would have saved myself a ton of time. I hope this helps... I meant to take some pictures, but it was 11 degrees outside today and I did the whole job without gloves. So, I was hurrying to get done instead of take pictures, haha.
Dan
