Well, I went ahead and got new brembo rotors and hawk pads for the front and started putting them on...one side is all done but the other side is being a pain. The four bolts that hold the wheel bearing assembly on are stripped or at least won't turn more than a couple times in the hole. I took the whole thing off and tried the bolts just to make sure they wouldn't go and I came to the same conclusion. How do I fix this? I think the bolts are stripped so just new bolts? Where can I find those? Any other options? I need to get the truck done asap! Thanks!

 

Depends on what stripped.

Did you soak it down with PB Blaster or similiar?

 

I soaked it with a penetrating fluid and I think the bottom threads of the bolts (the threads that make contact first) are messed up. Just like the first two or so and it makes it so the bolt won't keep threading in. Kinda at a stopping point now...just seeing what tricks you guys might have

 

I would try to loosen them up with an air hammer. Put your socket on the head of the bolt and reach through the drive end of the socket with a small punch on an air hammer. I have had this work to loosen them up. Good luck.

 

The new bolts need to be suspension grade, need to get from dealer. Had similar problem on chevy PU. Try to weld new nut ontop of old bolt to get ahold of it, IF the heads are stripped out.

 

They're just rusted from the other side - try a continuous incremental back-and-forth action to break the rust

You'll get better results with a breaker-bar than a wratchet

 

sorry guys I must have described it wrong. Everything is apart and off the truck. I am trying to put it all back on and the four bolts that hold the wheel bearing on won't thread into the holes. I believe it to be the first couple threads on each bolt, not the actual holes. Sorry for the confusion...

 

Ah, in that case if the threads themselves are deep enough to not worry about it I would run a tap through there to clean it up.

What size bolts are we talking here?

 

run a tap like PJ said, then carefull clean off your old bolts with a wire brush. then file leading edge off bolt, taking care to file past first thread (but not much more) that's not wanting to start.

or tap and start with new bolts...

if it will not start don't force it. guarantee stripped threads if you do.

 

9/16 is the socket I use to get them out. The tap sounds good, might just try to re-thread the first couple threads on each bolt and see if that works...thanks for the help!!!

 

Yeah, what he said, CLEAN as best you can. I doesn't take much to foul up some threads depending on the application.

 

You can get the correct size die from harbor freight or sears - run it down on the bolt far enuff to clean the 'entry' threads

 

3/8 bolt cant rember if it is cst or fst on the bolts just run a die down then bolt or get new ones at dodge or see if a parts store has them
that would be the best idea.....

 

Shouldn't all of the bolts be METRIC on these trucks?
Jim

 

if you are a tool junkie.... this is what you would use.