J.A.'s Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition
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Skid Plate Bolts:
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  • Craftsman
    14 piece Metric Tap Set
    #52378
  • Oatey Hercules
    Dark Cutting Oil
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    It is a well known issue that the factory skid plate bolts are self tapping and therefore easily cross threaded.
     
    While I have heard of this issue since purchasing my 1999 4R 8 years ago, I never had any experience with it as I have always changed my oil myself, dropping the skids every time, and never had an issue at all. Just been very careful to hand thread them as much as possible before using the ratchet.
     
    Now on my 2007 4R, I noticed immediatly when dropping the skids to install the lift kit that the 3 of the bolts were cross threaded from the factory. I did not address the issue until changing my oil for the first time as I didnt have the stuff on hand to fix the issue.
     
    I thought I would post about this to inform others of how easy it really is to fix. I had never used a thread tap before and was worried that it would get screwed up even worse at first.
     
    I picked up a set of craftsman thread taps at sears. The size you need is M8x1.25. Also a tap wrench and some cutting oil. And new bolts sized M8x1.25x25mm.
     
    I picked up enough to replace all 8 bolts as the socket needed to undo these bolts is 13mm rather than the 12mm for the factory bolt heads. This way only one socket is needed while removing the skids.
     
    Tapping the threaded bolt holes is very simple. Just put a some cutting oil on the tap and screw it into the hole slowly and be sure to keep the tap straight. It will self feed into the hole. As you sense resistance, back the tap out a half turn to break up any cuttings, then start to screw in again putting even pressure on both sides of the t-tap wrench handle.
     
    On the front most holes of the factory skid plate (the ones with the hooks on it), I needed to use a dremel to widen the holes (in the skid, not the threaded mount) a hair as the hole is very tight and precise alignment of the skid and threaded hole must be made to avoid re cross threading.
     
    Thats it very simple and the bolts went back in as they should.
     
    The taps I used are made by Craftsman 14 piece Metric Tap Set #52378
     

    Metric Tap Set



     


     
    Toyota 4Runner Topsites

     
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