Long time listener, first time caller..

I just bought a 1999 F-150 extended cab 4x4 and there is considerable rust on the running boards (as seen below) and after searching the forums I couldn't find any description on how to remove them. There are several bolts that hold the brackets to the body, though when I tried to crank them lose with a socket wrench there was a pop followed by free turning, but no loosening. There seems to be a cap on the top of the bolt, but I could use some knowledgeable advice before I screw something up. Sorry if there's a detail thread on this that I couldn't find, or if this is in the incorrect forum. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

there might be a nut on the other side of the screw that you'll have to hold back on. use some wd40?

 

its almost like a dry wall screw in that there is a cone-like casing on the other side with lock washer, any idea what i could use to clamp that with?

 

When I took mine off there weren't any washers, just a clip that the bolt screwed into. I'll see if I can find a pic for ya.

My guess would be that the clip snapped somehow when you tried to back the bolt out, if the '99s even have clips.

I'd take a cutting wheel to the bolts and be done with em!

Edited to add:
Here's a pic of the bolt and clip setup I was talking about. Obviously the bolts and clips for the running boards are a bit bigger, but the idea is the same.



The clip would be attached to the sheet metal, hope that helps!

- NCSU

 

I was able to work a few of the other bolts and get them out, it looks like a flimsy lock washer was supposed to keep the bolt from spinning, but with the corrosion and built up rust a few snapped with little torque. I've got all but 3 bolts off on the left running board but as night fell i decided it was a bad idea to bust out the saws-all. Tomorrow when I get home from work I'll jack her up and cut those miserable things out. Thanks for the help though, turns out I'm just stupid. phew. I'll post pics when done.

 

Glad to hear you got it figured out. Are you going to be cleaning up the old ones, putting new ones on, leaving them off....?

- NCSU

 

leaving them off for the time being. they are pretty corroded so restoring them would require a lot of time and money, though i will probably keep them around somewhere. i'm thinking about getting chrome single steps for the sides along with a chrome bull bar later this summer to top it off. any suggestions?

 

Get a set of these....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG_0jJj9HS0



- NCSU

 

IMO- dont clean them up and put them back on. Those stockers were ugly from the day they rolled out of the assembly plant

 

a quick update:

got home from work tonight and decided to see what i could get done.. needless to say it was a b1tch. every clip on the right side busted off due to rust so i had to use some vice grips to clamp them down. took me about an hour and a half to get both boards off.. but i like the results.

 

- NCSU

 

MUCH, MUCH BETTER!

 

Thanks for the praise.. it was a ridiculously annoying process and i cant wait to take the boards to the transfer station haha. Any suggestions as to what i can do next? I'm lookin for cheap, DIY improvements due to lack of funds right now.

 

down the road- some Westin step bars..

Bull bars on eBay llike mine are $99 with free shipping, see my gallery

 

Hmmm, I was going to suggest some bigger tires to fill out the wheel wells, but that won't be cheap!

Have you thought about tinting your tail lights?

- NCSU