[AgPilotOwner]

I recently installed the OEM Side Steps on my new Starlight Silver Pilot and I thought I would share what I learned. It was very easy to do, and only took a couple of hours. (One of which was spent finding the right tools).

The first thing you have to do is remove the clips that are covering the holes for the bolts. The instructions say to use the "clip remover" to do this, but of course I didn't have one of these. They can be easily removed by punching in the middle part of the clip in with a small screwdriver and then pulling them out with needle nose pliers. Punching in the middle releases the clip.

Secondly, the instructions clearly state that you need a 13 mm socket and wrench, but I found after the first couple of bolts that a 12.7 mm socket was a much better fit. (Before you spend too much time looking for your 12.7 mm socket , it's the one with 1/2 on it ).

Lastly, it is best to leave all of the bolts relatively loose until you have everything in place. This gives you the ability to adjust the steps so that the spacing is equal all the way down. I found that I had to pull out on the front part of the step, and push in toward the back to get an even fit.

Please feel free to ask any questions.

Next up... Rear mudguards.

 

[federico]

Question

AG,

What about the 20 lb./ft. tightening part mentioned in the instructions?. I don't have a torque wrench. Is it OK just to tighten the screws/bolts until they don't go any more?

Thanks,
Fed

 

[AgPilotOwner]

I'm no expert, but that's what I did. I didn't have a torque wrench either. I got them all pretty tight, and then a couple of days later checked again giving them one last tug. This is where the 1/2 socket was much better, with the 13 mm it began to strip the bolts.

 

[davemac]

fyi (in case you're not aware), 20 ft/lb is really not super tight. For instance, lugs on a car wheel are typically around 70-90 ft/lb. It would seem as though you really don't need to crank those things down.

 

[pjl56]

Re: Question

RATS. I installed an hour too early or I would have read these latest posts. No torque wrench here, either, and since they were advising the use of one, I figured that 20 ft/lb must be a *lot*. I now realize that I was pulling too hard, because I was rounding those bolts off a bit by the last yank. Ag, thanks for putting out the heads up on using the 1/2-in. or it would've been worse. Otherwise, a pretty straight forward install for this non-mechanic..

AG,

What about the 20 lb./ft. tightening part mentioned in the instructions?. I don't have a torque wrench. Is it OK just to tighten the screws/bolts until they don't go any more?

Thanks,
Fed

 

[Monkey8]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Jerry]

Link to a pdf with the step-by-step installation isntructions:

http://www.collegehillshonda.com/instructions/03pilot/sidesteps.pdf

 

[agw1]

Just want to share my experience with removing the clip. I drilled the center with a drill bit (less than 1/16'') and the bit just hangs on the center and pulls out effortlessly. Took out the rest of the clip by wiggling a larger drill bit by hand. Cool, you could reuse the clips.

I wonder if the pesky clips are the same for the front bumper and radiator? I still need to install the ATF and PS cooler and maybe lights.

 

[dntsne1]

If you just push in the middle of the clip it will become loose. I pushed it with my finger and pulled the clips out without any problem.

 

[mikmax1]

anyone install running boards themselves

Would appreciate comments on RB installations