Changing foglight woes

[FROGGY]

Can't shift the *** things.
Penetrating oil hasn't helped.
I can only turn one mounting screw, and as you can just see in the pic a brass insert or something like it is coming out with the screw.
What I need to know is, is it supposed to do this, or is the insert supposed to remain in the plastic?

[Arctic]

Hi Michael
The brass insert should stay put but sometimes they come out with the screw you can then grip them to remove them, once out you can either try re-using or use another fixing rawlpulg maybe Arctic

[FROGGY]

Thanks for the response Arctic.
It's looking as if I'm going to have to drill the screws out so if I can find the correct size bit maybe I'll be able to remove whats left of the screws leaving the inserts behind (and pigs might fly).
What I don't understand is how steel screws have rusted so completely into brass?

[Duotone]

If you can get the brass insert out ok then grip the brass captive nut and unscrew.

If all fails drill out steel screw and re-tap the thread. You can secure the brass captive nut with araldite, making sure its completely hard before using a new steel bolt.

Dave T

[FROGGY]

Thanks Duotone.
Going back outside to have another go..............

[Arctic]

Originally Posted by FROGGY

Thanks for the response Arctic.
It's looking as if I'm going to have to drill the screws out so if I can find the correct size bit maybe I'll be able to remove whats left of the screws leaving the inserts behind (and pigs might fly).
What I don't understand is how steel screws have rusted so completely into brass?

Chemical reaction im would say along with water and salt from the roads, i remove some of mine with the brass insert still attached by prising them out with a wide flat screw driver taking care all the time so as not to split the bumperpleanty of releasing fluid etc, hten you can get some mole grips onto the brass insert while you turn the screw etc.

But i did have my bumper off which i presume you have also

[Greeners]

Mick

Had exactly the same thing on my MKI V8

In the end......

I pulled out all the brass inserts.

Bought some threaded nylon rod, (M8 or M10 i think)(similar to this ) and bonded short lengths into the holes with some plastic epoxy glue (not araldite as it's not weather proof

Make sure all 4 studs are vertical before the adhesive sets.

The lamps refitted and secured with a plain steel washer and plastic nut.