What size star wrench for box bolts?

[stumpcatcher]

Hi
86 Ranger box is bolted to frame with 4 bolts that have that "star" head on them. I need to buy the star wrench that fits them.


What size star wrench for box bolts??

thanks

 

[97RangerXLT]

T55.

there should be 6 bolts. two at the front of the bed, and two at the back, and two at about the axle area.

AJ

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yup, T55. Crawl under and soak them with penetrating lube (I prefer Seafoam Deep Creep or ATF and Acetone). I tried doing it without spending much time trying to soak 'em down (actually I can't remember if I even sprayed them). Using a breaker bar and cheater pipe I managed to snap off 4 of the 6 bolts and had to torch one other out.

 

[stumpcatcher]

Ok T55
thanks

I wont be busting or cutting off those bolts, they are about 100 bucks each here.

 

[adsm08]

I wont be busting or cutting off those bolts,

Don't be so sure.

they are about 100 bucks each here.

Where do you live, French Polynesia?

 

[Mark_88]

Ok T55
thanks

I wont be busting or cutting off those bolts, they are about 100 bucks each here.

I got my replacements (not the original style) at Brofasco for about $8 each...they are grade 8 and I got them long enough that I could use nuts and lock washers instead of the clips...I was planning a lift but decided against it when the hockey pucks I was going to use were needed by the local hockey league...

The one by the front of the gas tank is nearly impossible to get at without dropping the tank, but hopefully yours comes out without any problems...I managed to snap two or three...but I didn't use anything on them to loosen them up first...so good advice on that has already been given!

 

[shane96ranger]

Ok T55
thanks

I wont be busting or cutting off those bolts, they are about 100 bucks each here.

Are they made of gold where you live?

 

[yourdudeness]

yourdudeness

Are they made of gold where you live?

the treads on these bolts are 13x 1/2 course nothing rare,,,, grade5 bolts should hold up fine,,, save your money or have a cold one

 

[Surrey]

also, the "star" head you speak of is called torx.

 

[AllanD]

the treads on these bolts are 13x 1/2 course nothing rare,,,, grade5 bolts should hold up fine,,, save your money or have a cold one

Actually Ranger Bed Bolts are Metric 12mm x 1.75 pitch

 

[stumpcatcher]

the treads on these bolts are 13x 1/2 course nothing rare,,,, grade5 bolts should hold up fine,,, save your money or have a cold one

Actually Ranger Bed Bolts are Metric 12mm x 1.75 pitch

I was talking to my jobber parts guy, he sez he has bolts that are fairly cheap, so now that I know the size of them I can find out what they cost. And he's got T55 on a 1/2" socket for 20 bucks, not bad if you say it fast.

thanks

 

[97RangerXLT]

20 bucks for a socket? ouch...

I think I paid 6 or 7 for mine. Get it at Sears/Home Depot/ Lowes

AJ

 

[saskbill]

I was talking to my jobber parts guy... And he's got T55 on a 1/2" socket for 20 bucks, not bad if you say it fast.

thanks

If it actually is a 1/2" drive on that T55, give it some thought. Most of the T55 drivers I'll seen are only 3/8 drive, and I feel kinda bad putting a 3' snipe on a 3/8 drive ratchet! Of course you can use a 1/2 to 3/8 reduction on a bigger ratchet, but that's a lot of force to put on the reduction.

Seriously, the amount of force (and likelihood of snapping the bolts off) involves the history of your vehicle and some luck. I've found generally the two bolts behind the cab tend to rust the worst (of course they are longer than the other 4 so can't simply be swapped out for rear bolts). Also, they used those bolts for a lot of years. If you have some time to kill, wander down to your pick-a-part junkyard, and try pulling some bed bolts (use some 2x4s to tilt the bed sideways after and retrieve some clips). My experience was that some will come out easy and pretty much perfect, and some will be miserable SOBs that have corroded down to brittle necks in the middle that will snap off if you sneeze on them!

Good luck!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I agree with saskbill, buy the 1/2" t-55 bit. I have bought 6 of the 3/8" bits so far as they keep breaking. I always take two bits with me in case one breaks.

Richard