Intermediate front bump stop bolts

I snapped off 3 of 4 bolts on my front bump stops trying to remove the OEM bump stops. I need to replace these because the rubber had fallen off the rusted out metal brackets years ago and I'm afraid if I run the Jeep without them I might put the axle into the oil pan.

Is the frame tapped for these bolts, or is there a backing nut secured to the frame inside the boxed section?

If there's a backing nut, is that nut welded fairly well or is it sitting in a sheet metal box?

I'm trying to determine if I can just hammer out whats left of the bolts or if I'll have to drill & then tap or run a nutsert. There's not a lot of room to get a drill in there so I'd likely have to drop the axles if that's the case.

The rears just have a non-welded nut, so those are no problem at all, but I don't think the fronts are fastened the same way.

Thanks,
jdarg

 

fwiw ive got no bump stops at all and have yet to bottom the axles against the pan or frame. i think the fronts are a welded nut...

 

I bottomed the front diff housing on the oil pump cover of a 304, i was minus the bump stops at the time. I don't recall how the bump stops attached in the front.

 

In 1972, there were a lot of incidents where the axle came up and hit the 304's oil pump housing. This would freeze the pressure relief valve and you'd have no oil pressure.

The original fix was to put a thick shim between the bump stop and the frame. This limited the axle travel, but had the obvious downside of ... limiting the axle travel. Jeep also offered a "racing" kit made from parts used on RHD Matadors (IIRC) that put the oil filter up on top of the engine, connected by two rubber flex lines. This worked very well, but Jeep would not install it under warranty. I put one on my '73 because it was cool.

Eventually they redesigned the oil pump cover to move the pressure relief valve out of the way.

 

When that happened in my XJ, I used nutcerts and new stainless steel bolts. The nutcerts are about a $1 a pop.

 

Wheeling one night long time ago the front end hit the oil pump housing on my 1975 without my knowing or no ill effect until the next morning. Upon starting it cold the oil pressure spiked and the oil filter ballooned and burst. I didn't quite know what happened so I put another filter on it and the same thing happened. (Definition of insanity.) The pressure relief valve was stuck closed over pressurizing the system.

 

Same thing happened to mine when Daddy had it.

 

Have you given any thought to welding the new bump stops on? it might be easier than trying to get the bolt holes drilled out. If you used poly it would likely that you would never have to replace them. FWIW I don't have front bump stops either and have had no issues, knock on wood.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I did some work on the Jeep over the weekend and took a closer look. They are threaded into the frame on my 75 w/ no backing nuts. I think I should be able to get my pneumatic drill in there if I just droop the spring or disconnect the shackles. I'll try re-tapping for 3/8. If I weld them in I just know that I'll come up with a reason to remove them three months from now.