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Tow Hooks Installed!

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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 09:17 AM
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Default Tow Hooks Installed!

After calling the dealership/website to ask where my hooks were, finding out Mitsu isnt stocking some Raider accessories, speaking with the parts guy who knew quite a bit and knew what I was doing, him telling the website nerd that Raiders are basically Dakotas so to look for Dakota hooks and get them to be ASAP, then finally receiving Mopar hooks two days later, they are installed!

I want to say... the tow hook install is a huge PITA when the bolt is froze! After semi prepping with a spray of WD and Liquid Wrench and so on, I had one bolt give me a 2 hr fight with me winning of course. Anyways, the first side (drivers side) went on in about 15 minutes. I thought I had lucked out and this was going to be easy. I hit it with an air impact and it backed right out. The install was cake. Then I went to the passenger side. After nearly drowning (I hit the bolt with the impact and it backed off maybe an 1/16" then about a half gallon of black water came rushing out) the bolt stopped. I heated, beat on it, sprayed more lube on, impacted for a while and then the rubber assembly started turning so I knew I was done. Out came the cut off wheel, of course, all I could get a hold of was the thickest part of the bolt head ... so that took some time. Once it was off I tapped it and realized one of the damn AC lines hindered me from getting it pulled out, so I had to cut the bolt a second time in the super tight quarters, but with some finesse and vise-grips I was able to not cut anything other then the bolt. ONe I got it out, I had to flatten two sides of the remaining threaded piece so it could grip in the vice, then it took a few good pulls before I finally was able to remove the rubber from the threaded piece. I almost thought I was done for. This all took the most time... the install was quick. So now the bolts have a dab of anti-seize for good measures and everything is solid! Here are some pictures I took Enjoy...

Bad Bolts!
2011-09-03_12-40-00_62.jpg

All Finished!
2011-09-04_16-11-22_502.jpg
 
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 09:42 AM
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Two things. 1. They look great on your truck! 2. Thank you for showing me what the bolt looks like, now I feel confident that its all just a regular bolt and nothing special and I can finally put on my brush guard with no worries!
 
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 09:51 AM
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When the rubber bushing started to spin on me, I just clamped the thing down. That kept it from spinning and I was able to wrench the bolt out. Doubt you will do this again, but for other readers, this is a lot easier than cutting, heating, etc..

They look great!
 
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Zombifyd
Two things. 1. They look great on your truck! 2. Thank you for showing me what the bolt looks like, now I feel confident that its all just a regular bolt and nothing special and I can finally put on my brush guard with no worries!
Yeah its nothing special, just a hardened long bolt. I'll take some measurements before they are trashed. I want to say they are like 12" long x 10 mm bolt with a 19 mm head. I'll clarify after they are measured for sure

Originally Posted by dsimm87
When the rubber bushing started to spin on me, I just clamped the thing down. That kept it from spinning and I was able to wrench the bolt out. Doubt you will do this again, but for other readers, this is a lot easier than cutting, heating, etc..

They look great!
Yeah, I am sure that could have been done too. I didnt think of that, but also I know I don't have a clamp that I could fit right in there. Either way, good point.
 

Last edited by lghtngblt02; Sep 7, 2011 at 10:53 AM.
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 10:38 AM
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Loks good Mr Bolt. October will be the d-day for my tow hook install. The rents will be outta town for a whole weekend

Dsimm, how did you clamp your bushings to keep them from spinning? Can you just use a few C-clamps?
 
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 10:54 AM
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Thanks man, if it weren't for you I wouldn't have found that deal.

I will say theses hooks are beefy!
 
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by lghtngblt02
I will say theses hooks are beefy!
um...where do I buy these again??? They look great. Now you can really pull those furds and yotas out of the ditches (leave the chevys in there)...
 
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 11:28 AM
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https://www.mitsparts.com/product_in...8ffa1e9c2c02dd is where I got em...

Btw I almost forgot to post the other photos before the above ones

Goody box
2011-08-31_16-35-26_305.jpg

Pieces!
2011-08-31_16-45-41_757.jpg
 
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 01:03 PM
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Clamp with pics: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...ml#post2561036
 
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 05:17 PM
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The clamp did not work for me, I bought the same one dsimm87 recommended.
I tried for several hours..looks like I will be cutting my bolts

BUT..cams go in first ...next week!
 
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