Removing broken self tappers.
Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2021 3:39 pm
Had new wings fitted a few years, and they used self tappers to secure the top of the plastic spoiler to the lip at the bottom of the front wing. (The original fixing was a small captive bolt in the spoiler and a nut inside the wing lip, but these shear, and I'd replaced them with M4 stainless steel nuts and bolts - fiddly to fit but worked) The new wings don't come with the hole for this bolt. Had to remove the spoiler and undertray to fix the windscreen washers, and what I'm left with is the thread of one of the self tappers sticking out of the wing which won't budge with Mole grips. And on the other side, the self tapper jammed in the spoiler (I'd guess there is a steel reinforcement plate inside)
Can't use heat on the plastic spoiler. Or really on the wing, as I don't want to damage the paint.
The spoiler is also a very difficult shape to put in a vice.
The bit sticking out of the wing didn't have a head on it. Almost looks as if it was inserted from the back and welded in place (lots of underseal inside the wing I don't want to disturb)
I'm rather at a loss.
Can't use heat on the plastic spoiler. Or really on the wing, as I don't want to damage the paint.
The spoiler is also a very difficult shape to put in a vice.
The bit sticking out of the wing didn't have a head on it. Almost looks as if it was inserted from the back and welded in place (lots of underseal inside the wing I don't want to disturb)
I'm rather at a loss.