1

A year and a half ago, I put a new radio into my 2012 Ford E-350. This week, I needed to take it out in order to fix some other things.

When I tried to use my ratchet to remove the screws, three of the four screw heads snapped off. I have tried to use a pair of pliers to turn the remaining portion of one of the screws, but all I manage to do is further snap it. I'm really not keen to do that to the other two as well. (These are the original OEM radio screws.)

snapped on left side

snapped on right side

How can I remove the remaining pieces to be able to replace them with new screws?

Moshe Katz
  • 926
  • 8
  • 22

1 Answers1

3

That's one of the doggone-est things I've ever seen!

Speednuts are available at hardware stores or online.

If you can cut a slot in the squared end of the speednut with a Dremel cutoff wheel, then insert a flat blade screwdriver between the front and back of the speednut and twist hard, you may deform the threaded portion of the speednut enough to break the bond with the screw so that you can turn the screw with pliers.

Times four.

If twisting hard doesn't do it, use a small chisel as a wedge between front and back of the speednut.

Once the speednut is cut, there's also the option of inserting a hacksaw blade between front and back of the speednut so you can cut the screw. Wrap the blade in tape, saw with teeth facing the "pull" direction. If a hacksaw blade is too wide to fit, grind off the back edge or buy a small sabre saw blade with hacksaw teeth and hold it with vise grip pliers. Slow and steady wins the race.

Good luck!

MTA
  • 10,754
  • 1
  • 12
  • 38