I just replaced my nerf bars. I thought I could pull them off, clean up the rust, prime, paint, and get a couple more years out of. No such luck. First bolt loosened, then tightened back up after a few turns. I put an electric impact wrench on it, and well .. it turned. Tore it up. Rusted worse than I thought. So I removed them completely and considered leaving it that way. I thought it looked pretty good without them, nice clean look. But I found myself falling out of the truck every time I got out without them. Muscle memory? I replaced them. Same bars, just new.