How to take off the side steps

[3Hummer]

Anyone know how to take the sidesteps off, and are they hard to take off, and approximatly how long does it take to take them off. Also if you do know how please tell how to do it thanks! I just need to take em off to head out wheelin, has never gotten in my way before, but im heading out to a new spot where my buddy said i might wnat to take em off.

[tower]

If you have the 4 removable U-steps, just get under the side of the truck, pull the R clip out of the hand bolt (has black knob attached to it) and unscrew by hand, if possible. If frozen tight, use a right angle hex (Allen) wrench in the center of the knob to loosen it first. Once the knobs are removed, the steps then can slide forward or back to come off.

If you have the tube type steps, you will need 2 socket, box-end or adjustable wrenches. A combination of any 2 will work as long as they are the right size. These don't have the knobs or clips but nuts and bolts, which need to be loosened from one-another. Once removed, the steps are free.

Reverse either procedure to re-install.

[3Hummer]

Ok three questions, why do i need two of them? couldnt I just remove one bolt at a time. And is it a difficult process to do, im not a real handy man type person, but if its only screwing and unscrewing i could do it. And about how long does the whole process take?

[Matt19]

If you use a socket or a wrench, to losen a bolt, the nut on the other end will normally spin, therefore it will not loosen. In order to loosen it, you will have to use a wrench to stop it from spinning. Look under the truck and you'll see. Its easy, now finding the right size, (my old man has a lot of tools, but they are thrown around in a big tool box) you should have a nice set to find a socket and driver.

If you dont know what a socket and socket driver are, look em up online. But pretty much any tool set ($15) comes with mostly sockets and socketdrivers, and then wrenches of course with the occasional screwdriver.

Good luck, you can use two wrenches if they fit. make sure they fit!!!

"This is in reference to tubular assist steps, not the other one"

[deserth3]

For the first time give yourself as much time as you need. At least a half hour per step. I can do it in about 10 minutes per step.

The back bolts don't have enough space to use a socket. When the bolts about half way out you'll run out of room.

I remove both botom bolts first and then go after the top bolts. This way I end up holding the bar as little as possible.

You also have to be careful to not damage the parking break cable on the rear drivers side

[tower]

Originally Posted by Matt19

If you use a socket or a wrench, to losen a bolt, the nut on the other end will normally spin, therefore it will not loosen. In order to loosen it, you will have to use a wrench to stop it from spinning. Look under the truck and you'll see. Its easy, now finding the right size, (my old man has a lot of tools, but they are thrown around in a big tool box) you should have a nice set to find a socket and driver.

If you dont know what a socket and socket driver are, look em up online. But pretty much any tool set ($15) comes with mostly sockets and socketdrivers, and then wrenches of course with the occasional screwdriver.

Good luck, you can use two wrenches if they fit. make sure they fit!!!

"This is in reference to tubular assist steps, not the other one"

Exactly.

The whole thing will take about 45 minutes if you have never done it before and are mechanically challenged. After you remove the first one, it gets easier with each repeated attempt. Down to about 10-15 minutes. If you need to do it on dirt, lay out a blanket or piece of carpet for yourself on which to lie.

[3Hummer]

ok half hour per step is cool, just wanted to make sure it wasnt gonna take me like 4 hours. also, i planned on using two adjustable wrneches. and....... where exatly is this parking break cable so im sure to keep an eye out for that one. and what about getting the arms there mounted on off? if you could post any pics that would be greatly helpful. also a step for step guide would be nice. I really appreciate your guys' help usually i dont ask a lot of difficult questions with long answers, usually just short ones. but the few times i relaly need some help i extremly appreciate it

[Matt19]

I cant take pictures becasue its almost 11pm. But i recommend just putting on some old clothes, and get down and dirty. Just go take a look, its hard to know what everyone is telling you if you cant visualize the task at hand.

You say ur using adjustable wrench, well then you need 2 of them. All I can say is go look to see where they go. Good luck, me and my dad, (mostly my dad) put my steps on(took maybe 30minutes each), all i did was hold it up.

If you take off one side of the bar, the other side might bend, so either you use something to hold it up, or have someone hold it up (thats what I did)

[3Hummer]

what about the arm that holds the step up? or does that come off along with the whole step.

[3Hummer]

yes i do, im extremly a non handy person, i can change a lightbulb thats about it, screw something that needs to be screwed and thats it hahaha. i just would like instructions so i dont eff anything up. and when you take off the steps does the arm that holds it come off iwth it too, or do you have to do that seperate.

[3Hummer]

yes i do, im extremly a non handy person, i can change a lightbulb thats about it, screw something that needs to be screwed and thats it hahaha. i just would like instructions so i dont eff anything up. and when you take off the steps does the arm that holds it come off iwth it too, or do you have to do that seperate.

[tower]

Sorry but taking photographs depicting the whole procedure would be much more work than actually performing this simple procedure. If you think yourself that inept, have the dealer do it for you the first time on a hoist and watch the tech do it. I have no idea why you want to "keep an eye on the parking break cable". If you don't bother it, it won't bother you. It runs parallel and adjacent to one of the frame rails, but you don't need to concern yourself with it. You are way over-thinking a very simple procedure which is about as complex as unscrewing a few light bulbs.

[3Hummer]

ok, in that case how do you unscew a lightbulb? hahahahhahahaha i didnt want you guys to go out and take pictures i was thinking maybe if you guys had some pictures already. im picking up the tools tomorrow for it. Ill be able to do it, just the more info before i do the easier it will be reason i asked about the parking break cable is becuase mat19 said to watch out for it, i thought it might be like in my way or something like that.

[Gunner_45]

Assuming you are doing this on a H3 (as your userid would suggest), it should take no more than 10 or 15 min per side.

You do plan on removing the steps as a single unit, not the tubes from the brackets and then the brackets from the frame?correct?


Mfish told me a very quick and easy way to do it?

There are 4 bolts holding the support brackets to the frame. Two front, Two back.

Remove the bottom two bolts first, then loosen the top two.

Remove the top rear bolt. drop that end of the step to the ground.

Remove the top front bolt while supporting that end of the step, drop it to the ground.

Done.

I just used a standard ratchet and socket set.

Note: Since the boltholes into the frame are threaded (no backing nuts here), I?d suggest using a little anti seize compound on the threads
and re-installing the bolts back into the frame holes to keep crap out?.

[stagger_lee]

The only way you learn to do it, is by doing it. You can handle it. Righty tighty lefty loosey. At least its not something to do with the motor, so if you f-it up, find someone with a sawzall and cut em off the rest of the way. You wont f-it up, dont worry, you can do it, piece of cake.

[RuggedH2]

Originally Posted by stagger_lee

The only way you learn to do it, is by doing it. You can handle it. Righty tighty lefty loosey. At least its not something to do with the motor, so if you f-it up, find someone with a sawzall and cut em off the rest of the way. You wont f-it up, dont worry, you can do it, piece of cake.

Now that's funny Stagger!

Sawzall......

This would be almost impossible to F this up that bad. Very easy job, turn the wrenches and they come right off. Don't drop them on the ground if you don't want them scratched, that's all there is to it.

Funny thread though. There are a lot of people here that really try to help others, that's cool.

[Gunner_45]

03H3: You bring up a good point...My comments about dropping them on the ground weren’t meant to be taken literally.....

Normally I wouldn’t have piped in but it almost sounded like he was wanting to remove the tubes first and then the support brackets.

I have actually heard of a few people doing exactly that instead of removing everything as a whole unit.

****, the first time I took mine off, I used jack stands and duct tape to hold ‘em up while I removed the bolts….

The Mfish procedure turned it into a (ten minute/one beer) job per side INCLUDING swigs of the afore mentioned adult beverage….

[stagger_lee]

Originally Posted by O3H3

Now that's funny Stagger!

Sawzall......

Funny thread though. There are a lot of people here that really try to help others, that's cool.

You like that? Thats my favorite tool in the garage.

No reason to bash a guy for asking a legit question. Thats what forums are for, and at least it not a question thats been beaten to death like "I heard the H3 is underpowered, or how does it do off road?"

Originally Posted by GVCOOLGuy

Holy ****, you need instructions?

Way to be a kind person.^^^ go F yourself.

[Agriv8r]

never can tell where it will end up once a thread is started...

[Desert Dan]

Take your H3 off road enough and eventually the steps will be gone.