[gnatbean]

Nate here, just wanted to show everybody a unfortunate little thing on my 2010 Frontier.
This is one of the bolts that was holding the D shaped tie points in the bed of truck. This is a 2010 truck. This should never happen on a proper bolt in the life of a truck much less in a brand new one! All 8 of them look like this.

I replaced these with some nice new stainless hardware already but i think i am going to send Nissan a letter with this little guy in a zip-lock stapled to it.

~Nate

 

[Mylt1]

looks to be corrosion from electrolysis. 2 different types of metal and through in some salt air and thats what happens and happens quickly.

 

[gnatbean]

The white corrosion does seem to indicate galvanic corrosion now that you mention it.
I guess the type of steel used for the tie down D points was dissimilar enough from the bolts.
I did have to remove them once to take out the drop in liner which would have worn the finish a bit.
That combined with the little bit of salt in the spray after a snow....

But sheesh it's not an uncommon condition. Come on Nissan.

 

[05Front]

I just put a bedliner in my truck this weekend and noticed the bolts were pretty rusty. One actually snapped when removing it.

 

[gnatbean]

Damn, did you have to drill it out or could you use some vise grips on it?

 

[05Front]

Damn, did you have to drill it out or could you use some vise grips on it?

I didn't have time to mess with it yet. I am going to soak it in WD40 and see if can get it out. Worst case I will drill out and re-tap.

 

[tholmes]

Did they only put the tie downs in the non-utilitrac beds?

 

[05Front]

Did they only put the tie downs in the non-utilitrac beds?

Yes I think so. All the frontiers I have seen with the utilitrac beds did not have the tie down points.

 

[HKYStormFront]

Did they only put the tie downs in the non-utilitrac beds?

yes

 

[Frontier2]

I installed them on mine for extra tie downs.

 

[Mr Spock]

I am actually a professional corrosion engineer. The white stuff is probably zinc corrosion product as I would bet the bolts were galvanized. I find the amount of rust and degradation unacceptable! Definitely send it in to Nissan. Probably won't help much.

Now as for your repair, the stainless bolt is an okay way to go. What you need to realize is that you are setting up a galvanic cell by doing this. In the configuration you are making, any bare carbon steel will act as the anode and corrod preferentially to the stainless. The good news is that the bolt willbe fine. The bad news is the tap you are screwing into will now rust. My advice would be to slap a blob of wheel bearing grease on the bolt before assembly. This will help isolate things and help keep out the environment.

As a side note, I have worked on automotive corrosion issues as a consutant for GM, Hummer, US Army, and the USMC. I have evaluated pretty much every corrosion prevention system out there so if anyone needs any advice, don't hestate to ask and I can help steer you away from the snake oil and to things that will actually work.

Sean

 

[nitricacid]

Sean n e opinions on fluid film?

 

[Mr Spock]

PM sent. I have used fluid film myself and have it in my garage right now.

 

[colin123]

man that sucks, the bolts on my tie downs in my 07 still look brand new and i live in missouri which is considered a salt state.

 

[Mr Spock]

I didn't have time to mess with it yet. I am going to soak it in WD40 and see if can get it out. Worst case I will drill out and re-tap.

From past experience, PB Blaster works much better than wd40 for loosening rusty stuff. Used a case on my son's 1990 Jeep comanche rust bucket restoration project (still ongoing :hick. WD 40 is better than nothing but not the best for this. If you have already gotten it off, then disregard.

You might also need to get some bolt out stuff from sears or home depot.

good luck

 

[Mylt1]

man that sucks, the bolts on my tie downs in my 07 still look brand new and i live in missouri which is considered a salt state.

missouri is NO WHERE near a salt state compared to Va, and Md. salt on the road does NOT make you a salt state. we are talking ocean salt and salt air all the time. EC, WC, and GC are true salt states.

From past experience, PB Blaster works much better than wd40 for loosening rusty stuff. Used a case on my son's 1990 Jeep comanche rust bucket restoration project (still ongoing :hick. WD 40 is better than nothing but not the best for this. If you have already gotten it off, then disregard.

You might also need to get some bolt out stuff from sears or home depot.

good luck

PB blaster is 100x better than wd-40. wd-40 is really a water displacement, hence the name W(ater)D(isplacement)-40(the formula number that worked).

 

[colin123]

missouri is NO WHERE near a salt state compared to Va, and Md. salt on the road does NOT make you a salt state. we are talking ocean salt and salt air all the time. EC, WC, and GC are true salt states.

actually due do tonnage of road salt used a year it is a salt state or state of elevated salt enhanced corrosion. i guess i should rephrase so you don't bite my head off, road salt state. i didn't think this was a competition i was just making an observation on how thats some bad corrosion and how even with being a 3 year older truck in a ROAD SALT STATE my bolts look almost brand new

 

[NissanPD]

actually due do tonnage of road salt used a year it is a salt state or state of elevated salt enhanced corrosion. i guess i should rephrase so you don't bite my head off, road salt state. i didn't think this was a competition i was just making an observation on how thats some bad corrosion and how even with being a 3 year older truck in a ROAD SALT STATE my bolts look almost brand new

state of elevated enhanced corrosion? Are you kidding me? So your state used salt on its road for like what 2 maybe 3 months for a total of like what a week? Lets try Long Island, NY all winter it snowed. So all three months. Where for the month of February it snowed practically every day. And lets not forget the rest of the year where we have the Long Island sound to the north and the Atlantic ocean to the south and east.

And btw since your bolts are in the bed they shouldnt get corroded by your so called road salt state b'c they shouldn't be salting inside your truck bed, just the road.

 

[colin123]

state of elevated enhanced corrosion? Are you kidding me? So your state used salt on its road for like what 2 maybe 3 months for a total of like what a week? Lets try Long Island, NY all winter it snowed. So all three months. Where for the month of February it snowed practically every day. And lets not forget the rest of the year where we have the Long Island sound to the north and the Atlantic ocean to the south and east.

And btw since your bolts are in the bed they shouldnt get corroded by your so called road salt state b'c they shouldn't be salting inside your truck bed, just the road.

once again i guess i missed the part about this being a competition about who lives in the most sh*tty place on earth but if its really that important to you guys then you win!!! :crikey: and no they weren't salting in my bed but when you drive on the highway it kind of gets everywhere including corroding the crap out of the tranny that i had sitting in my bed for about a year. this forum is full of some really smart people capable of intelligent conversation but you two are not some of them but like i said if it makes you feel better you win the competition you guys got going on :ugogirl::goodjob: