The BEST WAY TO REMOVE tough OEM radio screws!
05-11-2005, 01:29 AM
#1
The BEST WAY TO REMOVE tough OEM radio screws!
Okay, ive read a few sad things about how people have tried to remove OEM radio screws.
I've succesfully removed over 160 of these screws without stripping a single one, on the nissans. How?
Use a dril or a screwdriver, push down on the screw as hard as you can (obviously put the radio assembley on its side on the edge of a counter so you dont smash the screw tabs)and TIGHTEN the screw as hard as you can untill you hear a
"pop"
You have now succesfully broken the screw from its FROZEN state, and now unscrew easily.
The reason you guys strip them with screwdrivers and drills...is that pushing down as hard as you can while unscrewing is working against you. Unscrew will make it push up, yet your pushing down. Really stupid. If you screw INTO it...it will break the grip and make the screw able to move. Your actually helping "break" the screw loose.
You wont strip the screws but I have shattered a few phillips #2 bits. About 5. 3 of them on this one stubborn screw out of a altima.
I've succesfully removed over 160 of these screws without stripping a single one, on the nissans. How?
Use a dril or a screwdriver, push down on the screw as hard as you can (obviously put the radio assembley on its side on the edge of a counter so you dont smash the screw tabs)and TIGHTEN the screw as hard as you can untill you hear a
"pop"
You have now succesfully broken the screw from its FROZEN state, and now unscrew easily.
The reason you guys strip them with screwdrivers and drills...is that pushing down as hard as you can while unscrewing is working against you. Unscrew will make it push up, yet your pushing down. Really stupid. If you screw INTO it...it will break the grip and make the screw able to move. Your actually helping "break" the screw loose.
You wont strip the screws but I have shattered a few phillips #2 bits. About 5. 3 of them on this one stubborn screw out of a altima.
06-20-2005, 10:44 AM
#4
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3
Mechanic's tricks
Ajax, Comet or any other powdered abrasive is perfect for giving you the grip you need on the head of a difficult screw or fastener. Keep a can in the garage, dip the head of the screwdriver or bit into the powder and get a little to stick to the end, push into the offending screw or fastener.
As a helicopter mechanic in the military, we never went anywhere without Ajax or Comet in the toolbox. Works like a champ.
BTW, it helps if you do this as soon as you realize the screw won't budge easily. If you wait until the head starts to strip, that's just less surface area to work with.
As a helicopter mechanic in the military, we never went anywhere without Ajax or Comet in the toolbox. Works like a champ.
BTW, it helps if you do this as soon as you realize the screw won't budge easily. If you wait until the head starts to strip, that's just less surface area to work with.
06-20-2005, 01:38 PM
#6
Originally Posted by Happy
why was this so hard to figure out??? lol it was so easy cant believe we need a writeup for this i personally tried with a screwdrivr it didnt work so i pulled otu the drill and drilled them out simple as that LOL
dude, he's giving a suggestion about how to AVOID drilling or dremeling, "why was that so hard to figure out???"
06-21-2005, 04:32 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,771
Originally Posted by chinaonnitrous1
If you screw INTO it...it will break the grip and make the screw able to move. Your actually helping "break" the screw loose.
Tony
08-24-2006, 08:57 PM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by chinaonnitrous1
Okay, ive read a few sad things about how people have tried to remove OEM radio screws.
I've succesfully removed over 160 of these screws without stripping a single one, on the nissans. How?
Use a dril or a screwdriver, push down on the screw as hard as you can (obviously put the radio assembley on its side on the edge of a counter so you dont smash the screw tabs)and TIGHTEN the screw as hard as you can untill you hear a
"pop"
You have now succesfully broken the screw from its FROZEN state, and now unscrew easily.
The reason you guys strip them with screwdrivers and drills...is that pushing down as hard as you can while unscrewing is working against you. Unscrew will make it push up, yet your pushing down. Really stupid. If you screw INTO it...it will break the grip and make the screw able to move. Your actually helping "break" the screw loose.
You wont strip the screws but I have shattered a few phillips #2 bits. About 5. 3 of them on this one stubborn screw out of a altima.
I've succesfully removed over 160 of these screws without stripping a single one, on the nissans. How?
Use a dril or a screwdriver, push down on the screw as hard as you can (obviously put the radio assembley on its side on the edge of a counter so you dont smash the screw tabs)and TIGHTEN the screw as hard as you can untill you hear a
"pop"
You have now succesfully broken the screw from its FROZEN state, and now unscrew easily.
The reason you guys strip them with screwdrivers and drills...is that pushing down as hard as you can while unscrewing is working against you. Unscrew will make it push up, yet your pushing down. Really stupid. If you screw INTO it...it will break the grip and make the screw able to move. Your actually helping "break" the screw loose.
You wont strip the screws but I have shattered a few phillips #2 bits. About 5. 3 of them on this one stubborn screw out of a altima.
You are my personal Jesus.............:tu
Searched for 30 mins!!
09-07-2006, 06:15 AM
#14
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 72
I have found what worked the best for me was to pick up a T-handle screwdriver from Sears. 6.99 to do 8 screws without stripping them.
Link:http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes
Link:http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes
02-09-2008, 07:40 AM
#21
02-22-2008, 12:37 PM
#26
OR...
you can buy an regular impact drive and a rubber hammer, loose them up and once you install the new deck with the climate control, you'll realize that the bang phucked up your climate control light bulbs!
PS. why are the screws that tight? I had to really bang the impact drive to get them out...
you can buy an regular impact drive and a rubber hammer, loose them up and once you install the new deck with the climate control, you'll realize that the bang phucked up your climate control light bulbs!
PS. why are the screws that tight? I had to really bang the impact drive to get them out...
02-22-2008, 12:38 PM
#27
I shouldve read this post 4 weeks ago!
That was exactly what I used and the results are the same: broken bulbs in the climate control!
03-17-2008, 03:26 PM
#29
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: phoenix, AZ
Posts: 79
I actually tried installing my whole stereo over the weekend and ran into a couple problems with the installation.
1. These damn screws! I had at least e different people try and get them out before I decided they were going to get stripped soon. Finally asked my dad for some help and he has a very large piece of machinery called a drill press (most of you probably don't have one) We mounted a phillips that fit the screws nicely into it, pulled the drill press down and held it as hard as we could, I grabbed onto the head unit as my dad used pliers to twist the head of the drill press, worked good on all of them except one gave us problem and then we got it out.
Drill press, or....tighten them...lol
1. These damn screws! I had at least e different people try and get them out before I decided they were going to get stripped soon. Finally asked my dad for some help and he has a very large piece of machinery called a drill press (most of you probably don't have one) We mounted a phillips that fit the screws nicely into it, pulled the drill press down and held it as hard as we could, I grabbed onto the head unit as my dad used pliers to twist the head of the drill press, worked good on all of them except one gave us problem and then we got it out.
Drill press, or....tighten them...lol
08-09-2010, 04:31 PM
#30
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1
They are impact screws. You have to hit the top of the screwdriver with a hammer fairly hard while turning. It would help to have a screwdriver with a wide handle and a rubber mallet. Obviously the stereo should be out and laying on its side on a table or something. You do not have to tighten them-just unscrew like normal while hitting the top of the screwdriver with a hammer. GOOD LUCK.
08-10-2010, 05:06 AM
#31
^^ How do you expect to unscrew while simultaneously hitting the top with a hammer?
Trust me. Tighten with a low torque setting on a screwgun (using the correct sized bit!) until it clicks, then loosen it right out.
Trust me. Tighten with a low torque setting on a screwgun (using the correct sized bit!) until it clicks, then loosen it right out.
08-17-2010, 02:46 AM
#35
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 62
i mean...just cause he is new to the forums doesn't mean he's new to working on cars and whatnot. dude could be a professional mechanic or whatever and his low post count doesn't change that fact.
but whatever.
one hand on the screwdriver and one hand on the hammer? haha i mean i'm not saying this is the right way to do it...but you make it sound like it's quite a challenge to hold a screwdriver in one hand and a hammer in the other...
in taking my radio out, four of the radio bracket screws came out really easy. for some reason, the other side wouldn't come out for anything. this is a solid idea though. but.....my radio is working and in the dash right now so here's hoping she stays there a long time.
but whatever.
in taking my radio out, four of the radio bracket screws came out really easy. for some reason, the other side wouldn't come out for anything. this is a solid idea though. but.....my radio is working and in the dash right now so here's hoping she stays there a long time.
Last edited by aterfy27; 08-17-2010 at 02:49 AM.
08-17-2010, 05:05 AM
#36
Regardless of if they're a mechanic or not, they may not be well versed in the Maxima world. Mechanics still encounter new things every day. These screws are one of the new nuances that a mechanic may encounter, and my method is the best way to remove them. I've installed a LOT of head units in Maximas. I've tried many methods, including yours - it doesn't work.
08-18-2010, 07:50 PM
#38
regardless of the date of this thread...easiest way I have found is to just break the screw loose with a heavy 12v> cordless screwdriver/drill. don't use the automated power of the screwdriver/drill itself but just use it like its a normal screwdiver. the weight and strength of the gun will break the screws loose everytime.
Last edited by Teaner; 08-18-2010 at 07:54 PM.
08-19-2010, 07:05 AM
#40
DJ, that will work as well, but sometimes the screws get stripped no matter how careful you are. you don't need to torque the gun at all.
Last edited by Teaner; 08-20-2010 at 01:39 PM.