pop rivet puller?

[jmlenz]

Just took my bumper off and I can honestly say the hardest part was getting out those damn plastic rivets/fasteners. I used 2 flathead drivers and pulled like hell. Broke about 3 of them, cut my hand, and generally swore like crazy for 20min. I got it done in the end but there has to be an easier way. Anyone use some kind of pop rivet puller? what brand/where to get etc? Thanks

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by jmlenz

Just took my bumper off and I can honestly say the hardest part was getting out those damn plastic rivets/fasteners. I used 2 flathead drivers and pulled like hell. Broke about 3 of them, cut my hand, and generally swore like crazy for 20min. I got it done in the end but there has to be an easier way. Anyone use some kind of pop rivet puller? what brand/where to get etc? Thanks

They are actually VERY easy to remove once you realize they are made up of two pieces. You use the flat head to pull up the center piece which unlocks it, then pull and they slip out easily.

I didn't realize that until the second one I did. I destroyed the first one trying to remove it all at once... but once I got smart they came out with no fuss at all.

[Trips]

Good info m4a1mustang, I have also ran into these types of fasteners and they are a pain if you don't know the trick in removing them, a little late for jmlenz but a valuable lessoned learned on this fasteners or rivots.

[CBRich]

If you look at this picture you'll notice that the insertion/removal of the center piece controls the width of the whole unit. So you unscrew, pull out the center piece with the flathead, then pull out the whole unit.

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by CBRich

If you look at this picture you'll notice that the insertion/removal of the center piece controls the width of the whole unit. So you unscrew, pull out the center piece with the flathead, then pull out the whole unit.

Except ours just clip in and clip out, so you stick use the grooves to slide a flat head under the center clip and pull, then you can remove the entire fastener.

[bucketman]

Fairly easy to pull with a screwdriver, but I bought this Leslie rivet puller, much easier and no slipping screwdrivers to scratch things. Found mine on e-bay.
Detail Page for 39600 Plastic Rivet Pliers - Lisle Corporation

[jmlenz]

great info guys, thanks!