Factory Flare rectangular clips.
12-10-2007 | 08:01 AM
#1
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Factory Flare rectangular clips.
I have read through a handful of fender flare removal threads and i know there have been a few threads discussing the rivet clips, but most discuss the front flares.
I had an incident the other day. to save on some Dealership costs, i desided to remove all the parts so that i can just take it in to the bodyshop, and it is ready for metal work and paint.
While pulling off the flare (in this case the rear) there are plastic rectangular clips that fix the flare to the sheet metal body.
The rivets are easy to remove and the plastic push-in style pins were easy to just pop out, but these rectangular clips are what confuse me.
I ended up pulling with enough force to pull the flare off of the clips (there is a little notch that allows them to be pulled off without damage to the flare), but now the clips are still in the body. 3 or 4 or them are accessible by going through the tailight hole or the gas inlet hole. but there is 2 or three that there is no way to get to the rear of the clip cause it is actually inside an enclosed void within the body. To pull this style of clip out you have to actually compress the fingers on the backside, and push the clip out through the front.
so the only way i see it is you have to break the clip. Two things here. If you break it off, you then have the little piece that broke off on the inside of the body void that may cause some rattling. #2 those are pretty expensive clips.
anyone know a way to get these clips out without damaging the clips. I will post a photo of the clips that i am talking about this afternoon.
Ks
I had an incident the other day. to save on some Dealership costs, i desided to remove all the parts so that i can just take it in to the bodyshop, and it is ready for metal work and paint.
While pulling off the flare (in this case the rear) there are plastic rectangular clips that fix the flare to the sheet metal body.
The rivets are easy to remove and the plastic push-in style pins were easy to just pop out, but these rectangular clips are what confuse me.
I ended up pulling with enough force to pull the flare off of the clips (there is a little notch that allows them to be pulled off without damage to the flare), but now the clips are still in the body. 3 or 4 or them are accessible by going through the tailight hole or the gas inlet hole. but there is 2 or three that there is no way to get to the rear of the clip cause it is actually inside an enclosed void within the body. To pull this style of clip out you have to actually compress the fingers on the backside, and push the clip out through the front.
so the only way i see it is you have to break the clip. Two things here. If you break it off, you then have the little piece that broke off on the inside of the body void that may cause some rattling. #2 those are pretty expensive clips.
anyone know a way to get these clips out without damaging the clips. I will post a photo of the clips that i am talking about this afternoon.
Ks
Last edited by ksroqclimber; 12-10-2007 at 08:04 AM.
12-10-2007 | 03:47 PM
#3
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Yorkville, IL
I used two small standard screwdrivers, slid them in behind the clip and pushed in the fingers, then they pop right out.
I had a tree take my fender flare halfway off, so I had to remove it the rest of the way, 3 of those clips were still in the body.
I had 3 broken clips too, the part that holds it to the fender.....the clips are actually cheaper then the push in tree pins at the dealer.
I had a tree take my fender flare halfway off, so I had to remove it the rest of the way, 3 of those clips were still in the body.
I had 3 broken clips too, the part that holds it to the fender.....the clips are actually cheaper then the push in tree pins at the dealer.
Last edited by Eracer76; 12-10-2007 at 03:55 PM.
12-19-2007 | 08:31 AM
#4
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
FYI the clips pictured above are about $.45 a piece from the dealer. they are called "Arrowhead Clips". I was quite suprised i figured they would be much more expensive.
the screwdriver trick works for those that are accessible from behind, but there are maybe 4 that are fixed into holes that you can not access. Very strange. I had the Dealership pop them out while i had some other work done. They got them all out. said they pulled them out enough to be able to get a small pick in the hole and twisted it so that they just kind of popped out. But they did mention that you would want to be pretty careful as it would be pretty easy to F$%$ up the paint around the hole. Now i gotta figure out where to find and how to install the plastic rivits.
Ks
the screwdriver trick works for those that are accessible from behind, but there are maybe 4 that are fixed into holes that you can not access. Very strange. I had the Dealership pop them out while i had some other work done. They got them all out. said they pulled them out enough to be able to get a small pick in the hole and twisted it so that they just kind of popped out. But they did mention that you would want to be pretty careful as it would be pretty easy to F$%$ up the paint around the hole. Now i gotta figure out where to find and how to install the plastic rivits.
Ks