Tips for loosening a screw?

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Its obviously a lefthanded thread then lol.

Nah not reverse threaded just very tight lol

 

[Joseph7195 10+ year member]

Shim under the black piece with a flat head and rock it back and forth a little bit and it will loosen it. try using a socket under it as a fulcrum if you have to. but be patient and deliberate

You could use a body panel removal tool too. The metal one with the split in the middle. That's how I shimmied mine off in my Dodge.

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

it's rusted

 

[DukeNut 10+ year member]

rather than drilling, take a small chisel and place on outer edge of screw so you can tap it counterclockwise with a hammer. once broke loose finish removing with the phillips. so what if you burr the screw, its hidden by the plastic covers.

 

[FlexnInLa 10+ year member]

rather than drilling, take a small chisel and place on outer edge of screw so you can tap it counterclockwise with a hammer. once broke loose finish removing with the phillips. so what if you burr the screw, its hidden by the plastic covers.

I've had to do this more than once.

 

[vaiboy 10+ year member]

Get the right tool for the job. Lisle Corporation

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

it's rusted

It's not rusted, any weird discoloration you are seeing is from the lubricant

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Shim under the black piece with a flat head and rock it back and forth a little bit and it will loosen it. try using a socket under it as a fulcrum if you have to. but be patient and deliberate

You could use a body panel removal tool too. The metal one with the split in the middle. That's how I shimmied mine off in my Dodge.

I'll give that a try tomorrow (too dark now). And I don't think the body panel remover will work very well, the one I have is very thick and hard to really get it between anything because of it. I normally just use a flathead, so I will try that.

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

It's not rusted, any weird discoloration you are seeing is from the lubricant

I will bet you the threads have rusted causing it to stick tight. The condensation from 13 years of use more then likely has the threads all clogged up. I'm not sure why my post decided to end after that part but I originally went on to say try using gun oil as it will eat away the rust.

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

or try to get lubricant on the back side of the screw

 

[DukeNut 10+ year member]

I've had to do this more than once.

lol me too. i've gotten pretty good at it.

 

[FlexnInLa 10+ year member]

lol me too. i've gotten pretty good at it.

I run into the occasional really, really odd keyed screw... only way I know to get them out when I don't have the right tool.

 

[splwj47 10+ year member]

this

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

I will bet you the threads have rusted causing it to stick tight. The condensation from 13 years of use more then likely has the threads all clogged up. I'm not sure why my post decided to end after that part but I originally went on to say try using gun oil as it will eat away the rust.

That doesn't really make sense since all of the other screws from handles I've pulled out had 0 signs of rusting. All the rusting is on the bottom of the vehicle from the road salts

 

[Joseph7195 10+ year member]

Cool Main, I hope it comes out pretty easy tomorrow. I know I dented the outside panel of my old old High School car (an 88' Dodge Colt, Lol) because the metal tab between the screw and felt-headliner actually floats a little. The screw sometimes dead-ends at the metal panel it's attached too, and if you hit it too hard, it will dent your outside panel. Not all cars are like that, but something to watch out for.