[RoryBellows]

I broke two of the studs in my stock rocker guards. It appears that the studs are removable as they are in a tract. Anyone have success in removing one of these without breaking more stuff. I have one broken stud in each rocker and both are in the middle. Anyone know if replacements are available or should I just drill it out and put in a replacement stud.

 

[thorjeep]

Ok I'll try. Are you talking Rivets? I assume this is POS installed item, as per your Bio. What does the guard look like? Pics would be wonderful. Other than that, if it is all rivets, drill them out and get a pop-rivet gun and replace them, real easy.

 

[CJ7Taz]

I’m guessing that you are talking Renegade or other factory package with the aluminum rocker covers.

Yes, once you get the rocker cover off, the “studs” as you called them are removable. They don’t thread into the rocker, they are bolts with large square heads about ¾” x 1 and about 1/8” thick. Once you get the rockers off, they just slide out the end. They just fit into grooves in the back of the rocker cover.

I have never found any replacements but I was able to cut and grind the old shank out, drill and tap the heads and put new studs in them.

CAUTION
DO NOT PUT A LOT OF TWIST ON THE NUT, YOU WILL CAUSE THE BOLT HEAD TO PUSH A DIMPLE OUT INTO THE EDGE OF THE ROCKER COVER.

If it don’t come off fairly easily, just cut the nut off with a grinder.

 

[RoryBellows]

Taz, you know exactly what I am talking about. I do have a Renegade thus the rockers although I believe they are stainless. Anyway, I guess I'll soak them for awhile before I try to slide them out of the channel. They seem to be in there pretty good and since I already snapped two of the studs off I don't need any other unnecessary work. The "studs" are more like a piece of round bar with a stud in it and a 1/8" flat at the bottom to slide in the channel. I haven't looked at them that closely or even got one out yet so you may be right on target with the bolt...etc. I'll keep that in mind for an easy fix if I have any further breakage.

 

[CJ7Taz]

[ QUOTE ]
The "studs" are more like a piece of round bar with a stud in it and a 1/8" flat at the bottom to slide in the channel.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly, except the one on the front where the sheet metal bulges out at the bottom of the front fender ahead of the fender/tub seam. It doesn't have the round spacer.

I don't think you can get them out of the channel until you get the rocker cover off. Pretty easy to drill and tap (except the one I broke the tap off in, last one too). Put 'em back with brass nuts.

The cover looks like stainless trim but it is clear-coated aluminum.