Front Bash Plate Removal Advice Sought (Sorted)

[Mickyfin]

I tried to remove my front underbody bash plate today, first bolt came out ok, but the next two undid, but simply just rotate, and not unscrew.

Any tips, or advice on how I can get these bolts undone? I first thought that drilling the heads off, but as the bolts are rotating, they would simply just turn with the drill.

Thanks in advance.

[lloydy]

They are only self tapper type screws, so if they are spinning I would exert a bit of pressure, like a screwdriver behind the head when you undo it. If you can't quite do that, undo all the other screws so the weight of the bashplate is on the dodgy ones, then unscrew again. The weight of the bashplate should help it undo properly.

[toomanytoys]

captive nust... er... not anymore..... quick spot of weld to hold it firm while drilling it out/angle grinding it off.. geting the threaded bit out might be a challenge.. although i bet it will dissapear into the cavity.. so then you can fit a quality rivnut...

[lloydy]

then you can fit a quality rivnut...

I need to do that to mine, mine only has about 5 screws that do the job still

[Mickyfin]

Cheers guys.

The one bolt I removed, I was surprised to find it was indeed a bolt, and not a self tapper lloydy mate. Upon retrieving the secondary part that the bolt screw into its one of those things that normally a self tapper would screw into, but with a bolt on it. Will post up a photo in a minute to show you what i mean.

[syncropaddy]

If I remember correctly the bolts on the front beam are held on with M8 'speednuts' whilst the rest down the sides are just normal nuts and bolts

[Mickyfin]

As you can see, there is a threaded part, and a bolt that screws into said thread, no self tapper.

[syncropaddy]

As you can see, there is a threaded part, and a bolt that screws into said thread, no self tapper.

Nothing unusual about those. Some call them lugnuts and some call them cagenuts

[Mickyfin]

Ok, cheers, looking at the remaining bolts, i would say the bash plate has never been removed. I will try again tomorrow, and this time, try and lever some pressure downwards with a screwdriver whilst undoing. Fingers crossed that will work.

[max and caddy]

still available from vw dealers those..got some about 4 months ago.

[Mickyfin]

Cheers, will look them up on ETKA

[Mickyfin]

Almost got it off, and one bloody bolt took me two hours to get off..



Had to remove the washer bottle to get to the rear end.

Managed to get it off, then straightened the damage I caused.

[Mickyfin]

still available from vw dealers those..got some about 4 months ago.

I cannot find the part number for these via ETKA. I don't suppose you have the part number at all Max?