Windshield hinge bolts won't come loose

[PCO6]

I plan to replace my windshield this summer and I'm not looking forward to "the bolts". My plan is to pick the paint out of the bolts, heat them up to loosen the Loctite, insert a Torx bit and give it a good whacks and then use my impact driver. As with a lot of stuck bolts, if you try to tighten them first they will often loosen off more easily. It doesn't take much, usually just enough to break the rust seal. After that, reverse it a bit with your impact driver then tighten it, reverse it more and tighten it again to clean up the threads as you go. Unless they free up totally it's best, I think, to switch to a ratchet to get a better feel for the bolt. Impact drivers don't always give you that.

SGTJ - Did you buy a repro windshield and if so are you happy with it? I bought a pair of "foreign made" fenders for my LJ and was very satisfied with how they fit.

 

[Armytruck6x6]

May have luck with this tool...

 

[SGTJ]

What kind of torch did you use? A propane torch will just piss it off and do nothing.

Yes a propane torch. That’s all I had available to use and it did work on two bolts.

 

[SGTJ]

May have luck with this tool...

View attachment 81241

Yes I have that tool and I must not be using it right or can’t get enough hammer swing because it doesn’t budge them.

 

[SGTJ]

I’m putting a whole new frame in so maybe I’ll just completely drill them out...damaging the old frame and get new hinges.

 

[SGTJ]

I heated them again today. Nothing. Broke an easy out into one of them. And the impact driver still didn’t budge them. So because I am replacing the entire windshield frame any way I just drilled them completely out. Many thanks to everyone’s suggestions. I will be trying those when I attempt to replace the hinges and the tailgate.

Some picture of how badly rusted the Torx heads were and the awful state of my old frame and windshield.

 

[SGTJ]

 

[azroc909]

I used a hand impact driver it took a bit of effort and time but got all them out to put my towers on

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NPPATS/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[SGTJ]

I plan to replace my windshield this summer and I'm not looking forward to "the bolts". My plan is to pick the paint out of the bolts, heat them up to loosen the Loctite, insert a Torx bit and give it a good whacks and then use my impact driver. As with a lot of stuck bolts, if you try to tighten them first they will often loosen off more easily. It doesn't take much, usually just enough to break the rust seal. After that, reverse it a bit with your impact driver then tighten it, reverse it more and tighten it again to clean up the threads as you go. Unless they free up totally it's best, I think, to switch to a ratchet to get a better feel for the bolt. Impact drivers don't always give you that.

SGTJ - Did you buy a repro windshield and if so are you happy with it? I bought a pair of "foreign made" fenders for my LJ and was very satisfied with how they fit.

I bought a brand new windshield and I am happy with it. It came primed and I took it to a local paint shop. I think it came out looking great. I put the glass in last week.

 

[SGTJ]

I couldn’t get mine to move with the hand held impact driver. I think it was probably operator error and massive amounts of rust. Yours look great!

 

[PCO6]

I bought a brand new windshield and I am happy with it. It came primed and I took it to a local paint shop. I think it came out looking great. I put the glass in last week.

That's good to know. Thanks

 

[SGTJ]

That's good to know. Thanks

I should have said windshield frame...I also have a new tailgate that needs to be painted and I am going to get new front fenders. Mine are all rusted. The glass I bought through a place online called Jeep Glass.

 

[01TJ-Blues]

This may sounds silly but I had the same issue and rather than screw up the paint by using a torch I took a high heat soldering iron and held it in the torx bolt recessed area for about 5 minutes. It melted the locking agent and the spun the bolt out easily after it was good and hot.


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[SGTJ]

This may sounds silly but I had the same issue and rather than screw up the paint by using a torch I took a high heat soldering iron and held it in the torx bolt recessed area for about 5 minutes. It melted the locking agent and the spun the bolt out easily after it was good and hot.


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I’ve heard people have had good luck with the soldering iron. I’ll have to pick one up for when I do the tailgate. I wasn’t too worried about the paint because I am going to replace the inges anyway. The torch didn’t harm the paint as far as I can see.

 

[Tray Burge]

This may sounds silly but I had the same issue and rather than screw up the paint by using a torch I took a high heat soldering iron and held it in the torx bolt recessed area for about 5 minutes. It melted the locking agent and the spun the bolt out easily after it was good and hot.


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That's exactly what I was thinking about doing! Glad to see it works.

 

[Vasq]

Currently fighting the same thing, they started to give so i stopped to consult the internet. What king of heat are we talking about here if not a propane torch? I already have one of the impact driver doo-dads and can try swinging a hammer at that. I really don't want to mess up my paint or anything trying to do this.



also posting here because i didn't think i needed to start a whole new thread.

 

[Tigger09]

I had some luck with this screw buster and some bits from harbor freight. I still have a few I’m fighting with.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NMSDD1Z/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[reddvltj]

What king of heat are we talking about here if not a propane torch?

Typically an Oxygen/acetylene torch, or Oxygen/Mapp gass
This would be much cheaper than an ocy/acet, kit
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NVQS9D1/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Vasq]

i am going to have to look into those, thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Chris]

Even here in Oregon (with no rust) mine were a pain in the ass to get out.

One of them I actually had to get out with a screw extractor. I replaced them with stainless steel bolts and used plenty of anti-seize.