TJ: Winch Question

First, caution on the two bolts per bracket that hold the swaybar down. They are not rated bolts, they are like self-tapping bolts and over-tightening them will easily strip out the female threads. Yes, you can use washers to level out that area, that's what I did six years ago and it's fine.

And yes too, you'll need longer bolts for the winch bracket. Replace them with Grade 5 or Grade 8 hex head bolts. You'll likely have to go to a specialty store that specializes in nuts and bolts since few Home Depot type stores carry a large enough selection of rated (Grade 5 or 8) bolts. Just take one of the torx-head bolts into the store with you to get the right thread.

Jerry

The threads for the mounting plate are metric and it may be difficult to find them at the local hardware outfit. I ended up going to an industrial bulk supplier, Wurth Fastener, and talked them into selling me just 4.

The wacky thing about Warns mounting kits, they give you locks for the winch and the center plate to frame tabs, but not for the frame to tab bolts. So, unless you weld them someone can just unbolt the whole thing, mounting plate and all & walk away with it.

I could have sworn mine were 1/2" coarse thread Imperial bolts. Doesn't make sense for them to be Torx and Imperial......but I remember replacing them with grade 8 bolts.....and you can't get "grade 8" metric.....it's either 8.8 or 10.8, or whatever.....

Paul

I have found that ACE hardware stores usually have a great selection of bolts. NAPA used to have them,..but the one here took that part out of the store.

Billy

Yeah, I think they were 8.8s.