Stripped screw removal help!

[dakata24]

im trying to remove a stripped screw in my car to replace a speaker. there's really no room to use a stripped screw extratcor that requires a drill since it's pretty much up against the rear window. i do have access to the bottom of the screw from the trunk. i tried using pliers and a wrench with no luck.

any sure fire ways to get that taken out easily?

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: dakata24
im trying to remove a stripped screw in my car to replace a speaker. there's really no room to use a stripped screw extratcor that requires a drill since it's pretty much up against the rear window. i do have access to the bottom of the screw from the trunk. i tried using pliers and a wrench with no luck.

any sure fire ways to get that taken out easily?

Looks like you're screwed! :laugh:

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: dakata24
im trying to remove a stripped screw in my car to replace a speaker. there's really no room to use a stripped screw extratcor that requires a drill since it's pretty much up against the rear window. i do have access to the bottom of the screw from the trunk. i tried using pliers and a wrench with no luck.

any sure fire ways to get that taken out easily?

so, the head is stripped not the threads right?

 

[bunker]

Take a dremel and work from the trunk. If the end of the screw is pointed chop it flat then cut a slot in it. Screw it in from the bottom to take it out the top.

 

[dakata24]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: dakata24
im trying to remove a stripped screw in my car to replace a speaker. there's really no room to use a stripped screw extratcor that requires a drill since it's pretty much up against the rear window. i do have access to the bottom of the screw from the trunk. i tried using pliers and a wrench with no luck.

any sure fire ways to get that taken out easily?

so, the head is stripped not the threads right?

yup. when i popped the grill off i noticed that i was stripped. dumb factory installer. thread seems fine as far as i can tell since i cant make it budge.

 

[DnetMHZ]

Originally posted by: bunker
Take a dremel and work from the trunk. If the end of the screw is pointed chop it flat then cut a slot in it. Screw it in from the bottom to take it out the top.

Winnar! This works

 

[dakata24]

ill give that a shot. thanks bunker. 🙂

 

[m2kewl]

replace the car!

 

[Black88GTA]

If you can access the head...and it's the rounded type (not the type that mounts flush) you can cut off part of the head (so you have a flat edge) with a dremel, then cut another one directly opposite it. then use an adjustable wrench on it. Or, just cut one flat edge and use a Gator Grip socket on it. This worked great when I had a stripped out valve cover bolt that needed to come out.

EDIT: Oh yea, regular pliers won't work in this situation. Locking grip pliers, however...get those on the threads GOOD and TIGHT from the bottom, and turn it (make sure you're going the right way - righty tighty, lefty loosey, as you view the screw from the top 😀 ) It should pop right out.

 

[dakata24]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
If you can access the head...and it's the rounded type (not the type that mounts flush) you can cut off part of the head (so you have a flat edge) with a dremel, then cut another one directly opposite it. then use an adjustable wrench on it. Or, just cut one flat edge and use a Gator Grip socket on it. This worked great when I had a stripped out valve cover bolt that needed to come out.

EDIT: Oh yea, regular pliers won't work in this situation. Locking grip pliers, however...get those on the threads GOOD and TIGHT from the bottom, and turn it (make sure you're going the right way - righty tighty, lefty loosey, as you view the screw from the top 😀 ) It should pop right out.

ill give that a shot too. thanks. so something like this will do the trick?

 

[Ness]

They make flexing attachment things for drills. If you have one, just screw the screw (as long as you have one to replace it, which shouldn't be hard at all.)

Really though, you can easily work from the other side, which in my experience putting rear speakers in a car is actually EASIER, for the same reason you are having trouble getting it out.

You may want to consider replacing the screws with ones that also have hex-shaped heads, so you can use a socket wrench next time. Makes things bunches easier, as a socket wrench is 1000 times less likely to strip a screw.

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: dakata24

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
If you can access the head...and it's the rounded type (not the type that mounts flush) you can cut off part of the head (so you have a flat edge) with a dremel, then cut another one directly opposite it. then use an adjustable wrench on it. Or, just cut one flat edge and use a Gator Grip socket on it. This worked great when I had a stripped out valve cover bolt that needed to come out.

EDIT: Oh yea, regular pliers won't work in this situation. Locking grip pliers, however...get those on the threads GOOD and TIGHT from the bottom, and turn it (make sure you're going the right way - righty tighty, lefty loosey, as you view the screw from the top 😀 ) It should pop right out.

ill give that a shot too. thanks. so something like this will do the trick?

Yup, that should do it - although I prefer something like this. Having used both, I think you get more torque out of a standard type model like that one than you do out of the long nose type you linked. JMO, of course. Either one should be fine for a small screw like the one you are trying to take out.

One thing to note - do your best not to screw up the threads on the bottom too bad. That can make it difficult to unscrew it once you break it loose. Good luck!

EDIT: Argh, Home Depot won't let me link to individual products. Let's see if Northern Tool will...

 

[FrustratedUser]

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