Ppl used to say they got the bolt out by prying the exhaust on 3.8 jk. Some even said the exhaust wasn't in the way. I tried a little prying with the jack on my 08 and thought "no way". I cut the bolt with a sawzall. Put in an equivalent bolt from fastenal. Then ordered a factory replacement (approx $20) from the dealer.

When you reverse the bolt stuff rags down in the frame to keep the bolt from getting lost in the frame if it falls.

 

I just removed the two exhaust flange bolts to move the pipe out of the way....easy peasy!

 

Ahhhhhh you are supposed to cut it off easier....usually you are supposed to get a replacement with the kit. The non metric bolt size is ½-13 x 3 ¼” Flange Hex Head Bolt and ½”-20 Hex Flange Nut install the new bolt from the outside of frame and the nut inside the frame.

 

I put my brackets on my 2011 a few months ago and just took off the exhaust flange bolts - took me a whole 5 minutes with just hand tools and a swivel extension.

 

good luck getting the 1/2-13 bolt to thread onto the 1/2-20 nut....

 

mines came with bolts and surely for a reason.

I think the stock bolts are not compatible if they provide new hardware with the brackets.

 

Must be different version out there. My instructions say to reuse the hardware.

 

Poor mans lock-tight. There's nothing tighter than a good cross thread.

 

Bahahahahaha