3 years on a set of Mopar Extended Length Oval Side Steps. Going good - no Rust or UV Damage.
But the Crush Nuts are starting to Fail !! And that really makes for lots of Squeeking / Shaking.
I'm afraid that a large bump will finish the job, and the Side Step will fall off or catch onto something and damage the truck.

Has anyone replaced their Crush Nuts lately ?? (How does you get old ones out ??)
Has anyone tried the "Plusnuts" which are similar (but make larger supporting "bulk" on the backside of the steel sheet) ??

What is holding your Side Steps on ??

 

I figure you should be able to tighten the bolts and take any play out.

If not use the tool to reset "tighten" them up again. Lube the nut on the tool when tightening.

You can buy replacement sets from MOPAR..

Probably have to file the ring off and push the body into the rocker panel to remove them.

 

The newer Amp Powersteps come with a plate that you drop into the sill to double the wall thickness. Same crushnuts though.

I'm with TurboGPZ. If the step bolts are tight, that should take out any play as it also crushes the nuts tight. I'd check the metal to be sure it is not cracked or damaged if the bolts are tight. You could try the Plusnuts but as he mentioned, you'll probably have to grind the lip off the original crushnuts and pull them out from the rear with a small magnet though the hole that is just above.

If the steps are very loose and you are worried about them falling off and causing damage, why not temporarily remove them till you sort this out?

 

The Crush Nuts which are the current problem have started to pull through the body sill wall - guessing the crushed metal on the back has failed.
I'm rather sure that I can get the old nuts out, whether by pulling through the rest of the way or by pushing into body (but anxious about "catching them").
My concern is whether there is something better to replace this cobbled-up bolt solution (oh, why couldn't Dodge have invested an additional $0.25 in robotic-welder time to have set real mounting nuts in there at the factory ??). Even if I replace the Side Steps (for which there is no current reason - they're good except the Crush Nuts), most of the 3rd-party Side Steps are limited to the same Crush Nut approach. So no real Win there...
So, $25 for a PlusNut 10pc Kit that includes the simple Bolt&Nut "Install Tool". Or $?? for a similar Mopar Crush-Nut Kit. Is there a 3rd Option ??

 

The problem I see with the Plusnuts is that they are round so will not fit your holes properly. (at least all the ones I found) If you wanted to try something different this time, maybe Amp would sell you just their backing plates and rivnuts which would double up the wall thickness. Less flex should help to keep them from loosening.

On removing the originals, I was able to get my finger behind the nuts through the taped hole just above where the nuts install. So you ought to be able to get a small magnet in there to remove the old ones when you cut off the heads.

 

Mine fell off on one side turns out the crush nuts wee not on properly to start(QUOTE=seigell;2764026]3 years on a set of Mopar Extended Length Oval Side Steps. Going good - no Rust or UV Damage.
But the Crush Nuts are starting to Fail !! And that really makes for lots of Squeeking / Shaking.
I'm afraid that a large bump will finish the job, and the Side Step will fall off or catch onto something and damage the truck.

Has anyone replaced their Crush Nuts lately ?? (How does you get old ones out ??)
Has anyone tried the "Plusnuts" which are similar (but make larger supporting "bulk" on the backside of the steel sheet) ??

What is holding your Side Steps on ??[/QUOTE]

 

There was someone that found some heavy duty ones along with an extra bracket for the most steps that dealer had no clue about

 

Do you recall the Thread ?? Was it different than above where @TopGun discusses the AMP Motorized Rails ?? Do you think it was a Mopar "Backing Plate" ??

 

I went through a whole process with the dealer and ended up putting on a Mopar reinforcement kit that I found through the Mopar estore that is no longer on there. I also found better rivetnuts that are substantially heavier. I havea ton of info I can email with part numbers and pictures so if anyone is interested PM me with your email and I will send. Also I believe that combo is talking about me as I sent him some info before I will try and dig up my old post.

 

So here is my original post
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/4th-gen...-chrome-4.html
Also from the pictures of the new 2013 that I have seen these reinforcement brackets are on the new stainless steps that they are showings on the trucks.