Bed bolt cage nut

[steelers7]

Anyone know what the cage nut for the bed bolts look like or how theyre secured?

 

I am removing bed to change wrecked bumper and a cage nut came free once I got a bed bolt about a quarter inch out. Now it just spins... can feel resistance from the nut on the other side (in the tube) as I spin the bolt. 

 

I'm thinking, cut bolt off (i have room since it came out a bit before nut broke free) and fish the cage nut out of the tube (looks like I have room), but before I cut I want to make sure the cage nut will be free to slide out once the bolt is gone. Don't want to cut the bolt then be stuck with the nut and half the bolt stuck up there, will find another way.

[richard wysong]

You may have to chisel the cage loose but unless you can get in there with a wrench or vice grips cutting the bolt is probably the best option. You could cut a window to access the nut also

[steelers7]

Yeah since I got the bolt out some I can tell it's secured with something because i cant move the bolt vertically at all... nut must be secured. So if i cut the bolt, ill have a nut and half a bolt still sitting there. I thought about giving the bolt a whack with a hammer to jar the nut and whatever is holding it there loose, but trying to get an idea of what's holding it there first.

[richard wysong]

There are 2 types and I don't know which they use, 1 type uses a sheet metal cage , the other is just the nut tak welded to the tube so if you can't move the bolt up and down it probably has the sheet metal cage and whacking it with a hammer before cutting it may break the cage free so that it will come out with out too much trouble

[steelers7]

I'll try tapping the bolt tomorrow to see if the cage comes free. My fear would be the nut comes out of the cage but the cage stays in place... but googled gm cage nut and what I found looks like it should pop out with a little force. 

[richard wysong]

How are you planning on replacing it? 

[steelers7]

Replacing would depend on how it comes out... I had a few ideas.

 

But, no luck freeing it. It looks like the cage nut is this style Here

I think its welded to the bottom of the tube. But no hammer whacks are releasing the nut from it, even tried putting a jack on it and using the weight of the truck to break it loose, no dice. Thinking next move might be to lift bed and break it free from bottom of tube.

 

In the meantime, pulled bumper by removing the bumper trim... what a pain that was.

[5p33dm4ch1n3]

I ran into this issue yesterday and ended up cutting a hole in the bed and re-welding the nut to the frame. I plan to bed line my truck afterwards so I figured i didn’t have much to lose. 
 

I’m not entirely sure, but it looks like the reinforcement plate under the bed at each fastening place might be the mount for said fastener. I’m going to attempt to remove one where I had another bolt I had to cut the head off and see if I can repair the nut. I plan to rivet the plate back on afterward.