Dang screws

[WV_Outdoorsman]

Have any of you guy's ever had a difficult time getting the screws out of the windshield hinge? Or have you ever had to drill the windshield hinge for mounting? I bought a set of relocation brackets and ordered some mirrors for my YJ. Today I decided to see how difficult it was going to be to get the screws out to mount the brackets. When the jeep was painted they painted over the screw heads so I took a knife and scraped the painted away to get to the screw head. I shot some WD40 around the screw head and tried to get it out with a star bit and rachet. No luck it's wanting to strip out. So I am to the point of either selling the bracket and mirrors and buying some that mount to the door brackets or drilling new holes and using self tapping screws. Just aftraid the hinge won't drill out right and ruin the paint on the Jeep for nothing. Any of you guy's ever experienced this problem or have any sudgestions?

Thanks,
WVO

[korisu56]

The torx bolts right? The only thing I've been able to do if they want to strip out is tap the bit into place with a hammer. That way its REALLY seated. Can't really hurt anything to try it...

[miljeep]

I have to dig around a little, but I do remember a thread about this on NOVA Jeepers or Beltway Jeepers. I will check and post if I find anything.

[Truck]

First of all let me state that torx bolts suck and the guy who invented them should have died a slow and painful death.....

Now as to getting them out.
- Use PB Blaster and soak them good overnight or several nights in a row. WD-40 will not do any good
- Use a good set of bits (ie.Craftsman, Mac, SnapOn) as you can replace them for free when you break them.
- Tap them in like suggested to get a deep seat and good bite.
- Use an impact gun set on low setting (the hammer action helps break them loose
- If you still can't get them out try a little heat with a torch. That helps loosen them up as well
- If you still can't get them out weld a nut to the top, then use a socket and breaker bar
- Last resort is to drill it out and retap it

Once done the last thing is NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER put a torx bolt back in a jeep.

The above progressive method has always worked for me and many others.

Truck

[WV_Outdoorsman]

Thanks guy's for the input. I must agree with you Truck those things are a pain in the arse. I'm going to go get some PB blaster and give it a shot. I have heard good things about the stuff. Thanks again guy's wish me luck.

WVO

[Truck]

Also when I say tap the bits into the torx bolt, I don't mean be a sissy. Drive it in and seat it...again sometimes just that impact shakes some of the rust and stuff loose.

Truck

[Rabies99]

A hint I learned... if the bolts are painted, use an exacto knife to cut the paint around the bolt. Dang paint acted like loctite. Couldn't hurt to try.

[05warrior]

i had to use a breaker bar on some of mine.

[WV_Outdoorsman]

Thanks guy's for all the input, I finished the job today. With the exception of the mirrors they are in the mail somewhere. I ended up having to take alot of the dash out to get to the back side of the bolts. I bought a can of PB blaster but it didtn't get it done. I ended up having to drill out all the bolts. The nuts and everything on the backside had been sprayed with some kind of silicon type stuff. The bolts wouldn't have turned if they wanted to. There was a bit more to it than I originally thought but now I can look at a finished job well done:)

Thanks again,
WVO

[korisu56]

Glad it worked out for you. Do you have any pics of how you had to go about it?

[E5EDDIE]

Better late to the party then not going at all,
I had to seat the torx in the bolt and smack it with a hammer a couple of times to break loose the thread lock goo...