Skid plate hardware dealer damaged

Coming due for another 5k oil change and I was under my truck 2 weeks ago changing front/rear/transfer case fluids and noticed my hardware has been stripped/the bolts for the skid plate were not flush with the skid plate itself (extremely common well noted issue with the 5th gen).

I called my dealer after discovering the issue and asked if they would pay for the repair and I even offered to supply brand new OEM hardwares at my cost.

for those who have dealt with this issue: in order to remedy it, does the threading in the frame need to be retapped and is that all that is needed?

the service manager said he would need to see it in person to assess what needs to be done to fix it (which to me meant that more than likely they were going to try to make me pay for this)

 

Depending on which bolts were stripped there's different tools to remove them. If they are standard hex head bolts there are several aftermarket sockets that "bite" onto the stripped head to help you remove them. If they are button head bolts (like the stripped ones on my aftermarket), I had to drill and extract. That worked for one bolt, but not the other. So I'm still researching on that one. Good luck.

 

If you would, could you clarify somewhat? Are the threads in the cross member stripped, or the bolt threads/heads? The answer to that will determine the corrective action. Though, the dealer should fix it with at no cost to you, but considering they screwed it up in the first place, I wouldn't trust them to fix it right anyway.

Damned if this doesn't keep showing up. Dealer service departments appear to be in a race to the bottom.

If I had to take my 4R in for an oil change, they sure wouldn't get it with the skid plate on it.

 

Welcome to the club!

Several of my skid plate bolts were stripped during my free oil changes. Now I do my own.

 

Years ago, 2 of the 4 bolts were cross threaded when they were driven in with an impact gun.
I repaired it by drilling to the next size up and retapping all 4 with a 5/16"x18 tap and it hasn't been back to any dealer since then.

And to the OP, get ready to hear the 'it wasn't us' line of BS.
It's your option to return to them or do your own maintenance and repair.

 

another lesson learned not to let dealerships do oil changes. They dont give a F!

i think you’ll have to retap all threads.

 

i took my TRD skid off when I got an alignment just to be safe.

 

Do you know the correct tap for these bolts?

 

post #5 above

 

He may be asking OEM size….!

 

The oem non-TRD skid plate bolts are M8 X 1.25. Not sure on the TRD skid. I think they might be M10 X 1.25, as that skid mounts differently.

 

I believe that’s a larger size he re-tapped with, not the original.

 

Yes, not the factory MM tap.
I went with a larger Standard tap because the 8mm retap or chased threads would have been too loose and probably would have failed when the bolts were retightened.

 

Appreciate the info, I figured retapping was what needed to be done. It’s just a shame you have to fight with these people over this.

 

Have you taken it back to show them?

 

The dealerships are HORRIBLE. I have been changing my oil for over 25 years on various cars and trucks and have NEVER stripped any bolts. However, I decided to let them change it just once because it was free and they ended up stripping 3 of the 4 bolts on my TRD skid plate. I double checked their work after I got home. I ended up drilling out the threading and installing heli-coils in their place. Whoever did the oil change installed them back with an impact gun. I'm 100% sure of that.

 

I am due for an oil change in 200ish miles. I plan to schedule at the beginning of next week, and address it then. The service advisor spoke the the service manager who relayed to her to relay to me that he would need to see it in person.

 

If you are already down there changing T case oil then just do your own oil changes, too. It's not worth the frustration for $200 with of free oil changes over the first couple years IMO. Then you know it's done right.

Chase the threads with a tap, get new bolts, and do this repair yourself because this also isn't worth the frustration of dealing with the dealer.

 

Always remove the skids prior to bringing the truck in for any "service". I do my own work but the day i had new tires put on, i forgot to remove the front TRD plate. I remembered when it hit the shop floor.