Broken front running light hardware Final Fix!

[ThatJeepGuy]

I know I'm not the only one that despises the factory screws for the front running lights. They are easily more often than not broken off flush in the fiberglass. 

 

Gotta love sourcing misc hardware at hand, w/e seams to fit and keep the stuff together right? 

 

Please absolutely no more of this!

 

The starting point, broken off factory screw.

 

utilizing a rather small drill bit (1/8" or soo) you'll start by drilling 4-5 holes as close to the broken screw. I don't even bother trying to drill out the screw itself, just direct the drill bit around/through the fiberglass. Careful not to break your drill bit off as it just becomes another small obstacle for the next drill bit to deal with. 

 

Once the 4-5 holes are drilled through, worked the drill bit on an angle to connect the dots essentially. 

 

 

Once you've gotten the holes connecting the old broken screw should wiggle/fall right out.

 

 

Utilizing the same plastic thread insert that is used for the grill mounts and i like a step bit here going for the 5/16s depth.

 

So i did touch into the 3/8 part of the step bit just a little bit, the 5/16s is a pretty tight fit for the plastic threaded insert.

 

don't mind the off color light bulbs, they are on the list for replacement

 

Just add your favorite black interior phillips head screws and its looking Soo good!

 

 

Now you will be able to replace/maintain the marker lights and bulbs without worrying about broken hardware :D!

 

 

 

[Salvagedcircuit]

Any link to the inserts?

[eaglescout526]

26 minutes ago, Salvagedcircuit said:

Any link to the inserts?

GM grill nuts. Look that up on Google or Amazon. 
 

 

I approve of this idea actually! I thought about it but thought maybe wall anchors but not the grill nuts. Clever! Looks like I’ll be doing this to both my front grill assemblies. 

[ThatJeepGuy]

6 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

GM grill nuts. Look that up on Google or Amazon. 
 

 

I approve of this idea actually! I thought about it but thought maybe wall anchors but not the grill nuts. Clever! Looks like I’ll be doing this to both my front grill assemblies. 

 

Ive had this in mind for soo long and while i was refreshing my front marker lights i finally had the time and excuse to give it a shot. Really not very difficult unless you have a bulky front brush guard like my ARB bull bar getting in the way for the drill.

 

Can absolutely say this is how it should have come factory!

[Salvagedcircuit]

Interesting. That looks an awful lot like the insert used in the square speaker hole on the doors. Auveco 11691. They are an original manufacturer of the nylon screw nut.

[eaglescout526]

22 minutes ago, Salvagedcircuit said:

Interesting. That looks an awful lot like the insert used in the square speaker hole on the doors. Auveco 11691. They are an original manufacturer of the nylon screw nut.

The same! Yup, AMC got smart with those for the speaker mounting. 

[Pete M]

wait, so we're pushing a square peg into a round hole?  does anyone make a round version? 

[ThatJeepGuy]

On 7/29/2023 at 7:51 PM, Pete M said:

wait, so we're pushing a square peg into a round hole?  does anyone make a round version? 

No just defy all the early childhood toy lessons and push the square into the round.

[eaglescout526]

 

3/4 isn’t bad. I'm not touching that last one. With a drill to make the holes and then a small dremel file to make the hole bigger to pull the screw out and make the nylon nut fit into the hole, I say thank you for the idea! Now chunk won’t have the front parts hanging on by a thread. 

[ThatJeepGuy]

On 9/27/2023 at 4:19 PM, eaglescout526 said:

 

3/4 isn’t bad. I'm not touching that last one. With a drill to make the holes and then a small dremel file to make the hole bigger to pull the screw out and make the nylon nut fit into the hole, I say thank you for the idea! Now chunk won’t have the front parts hanging on by a thread. 

 

Thanks for sharing your repair. It's humbling to see it works for others