Running boards - how to get off

[Paul.LeClaire]

Pictures would help. Next time use a ratchet and take them out by hand instead of a power tool if that's what you used. If you get them out can you use new bolts, washers and nuts?

I did use a small ratchet. to be sure I could not damage them. They came out about 1/2 inch and then just spun. I have been told GM used some sort of rivet bolt, where they drill the hole, insert a bolt with a flange on it and then expand the inside of it to make it hold. Apparently the metal is very thin on the bars too, so they cannot weld anything back in. I am taking it to a metal shop to get the plates off and the holes / bolts repaired. Then I will bring it home, do the bed liner paint and the white paint myself and then gently put it back together again with my 4 year old grandson turning the kids driver so as not to strip anything out....

 

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[Koolbreezeya]

I did use a small ratchet. to be sure I could not damage them. They came out about 1/2 inch and then just spun. I have been told GM used some sort of rivet bolt, where they drill the hole, insert a bolt with a flange on it and then expand the inside of it to make it hold. Apparently the metal is very thin on the bars too, so they cannot weld anything back in. I am taking it to a metal shop to get the plates off and the holes / bolts repaired. Then I will bring it home, do the bed liner paint and the white paint myself and then gently put it back together again with my 4 year old grandson turning the kids driver so as not to strip anything out....

Oh I thought you were talking about like a tapped hole with a screw that was stripped in it. I didn't understand without pics. I stand corrected. Either way it's a pain in the A$$. Lol

 

[ironworker40]

Okay when you said small driver I thought you may have mean a small battery powered impact driver. Post some pictures. I want to see why they can't weld to it. Being too thin is not a reason that just means the person didn't have the ability.

 

[gemarsh]

Okay when you said small driver I thought you may have mean a small battery powered impact driver. Post some pictures. I want to see why they can't weld to it. Being too thin is not a reason that just means the person didn't have the ability.

Here is a shitty gm image.

The tube is pretty thin and round. gm uses a steel nut-sert, and it strips out the AL tube real easy. Can you imagine the cost of the board if'n gm tig'ed everyone of these?

 

[gemarsh]

Here is a color image...

 

[Koolbreezeya]

GM cheaped out on the step, not made to be tampered with.

 

[john151ama]

If the screws are stuck part way out and prying does not work I would be grabbing my dremel with cut off wheel and zipping off the heads. Get the rest of the screws out and pop off the step and proceed with the paint job. If the nut-zerts are stripped and spinning then you just need to figure out how to reattach. You could use a hammer and punch or nail and punch the nut-zerts off. Now you just have the hole in the bar the dia of the screw. Could then use black pop rivets for the reinstall. I have an assortment pack of black headed pop rivets and have used those to blend in on various projects on the truck. Used on front winch bumper to secure liscnse plate frame and winch control mount I fabed up. Blends right in with bed liner.

 

[Koolbreezeya]

If the screws are stuck part way out and prying does not work I would be grabbing my dremel with cut off wheel and zipping off the heads. Get the rest of the screws out and pop off the step and proceed with the paint job. If the nut-zerts are stripped and spinning then you just need to figure out how to reattach. You could use a hammer and punch or nail and punch the nut-zerts off. Now you just have the hole in the bar the dia of the screw. Could then use black pop rivets for the reinstall. I have an assortment pack of black headed pop rivets and have used those to blend in on various projects on the truck. Used on front winch bumper to secure liscnse plate frame and winch control mount I fabed up. Blends right in with bed l

 

[Paul.LeClaire]

hey all, So my truck came with black tubular running boards with a flat what appears to be aluminum metal from tube to tube, making for a very nice step. The problem is the paint keeps scratching as I twist when I am getting in and out, yet I know, quit twisting. So I had the brilliant idea to take off the flat panels, clean and scruff them up and then apply be liner to them. Sadly I took off three screws just fine and then the next three came about 1/4 of the way out and were stripped. I purposely used the small driver to make sure I could not strip them. any ideas on how to get them the rest of the way out and then what? Yes I know I can clean them on the truck, scruff them, mask off the truck and then paint, but there is also "Sierra" cut through the steps and I wanted to pain that white on the tube so that it really stands out. so ideally I get the steps off, and then I can do everything I want....

I ended up taking my truck to a local weld shop and they had the boards off in no time, but about 1/3 of the screws were shot, so genash was right, one time usage. GMC used some cheap ass compression bolts that 7 of those fell out as well. So the shop had to order more and while I have my boards off, I am putting on two coats of bed liner ( < 30.00 at the local hardware store). as per my first post, I also put a little heat in my garage and painted where the "SIERRA" is cut out of the boards in white. I will post a picture when done.

 

[gemarsh]

Waiting for pictures of the white SIERRA script!

 

[Koolbreezeya]

I ended up taking my truck to a local weld shop and they had the boards off in no time, but about 1/3 of the screws were shot, so genash was right, one time usage. GMC used some cheap ass compression bolts that 7 of those fell out as well. So the shop had to order more and while I have my boards off, I am putting on two coats of bed liner ( < 30.00 at the local hardware store). as per my first post, I also put a little heat in my garage and painted where the "SIERRA" is cut out of the boards in white. I will post a picture when done.

I ended up taking my truck to a local weld shop and they had the boards off in no time, but about 1/3 of the screws were shot, so genash was right, one time usage. GMC used some cheap ass compression bolts that 7 of those fell out as well. So the shop had to order more and while I have my boards off, I am putting on two coats of bed liner ( < 30.00 at the local hardware store). as per my first post, I also put a little heat in my garage and painted where the "SIERRA" is cut out of the boards in white. I will post a picture when done.

 

[Paul.LeClaire]

Here is a color image...

View attachment 22289

 

[Paul.LeClaire]

Here is a color image...

View attachment 22289

 

[Paul.LeClaire]