Wheel Arch liner problem

[Martin]

I had to remove my alarm box in a hurry on Boxing Day as the alarm would not stop. I have all the bits to repair it but had a problem with the wheel arch liner. I was able to undo all but two of the fasteners but even with plenty of WD40 the two that were like large plastic nuts still managed to break off with the bold still inside them.  These are located one at the top and the other slightly back and down a bit - if that makes sense.

Am I correct in saying that the bolt part of these two is fixed permanently to the car and it is only the plastic bolt that comes off? If so as mine have broken is there any way to replace them or make good with an alternative fixing?

At the moment the liner seems to be staying in place with the remaining screws holding it in place but not sure I would want to take it on the motorway if there is a chance it could come off.

Any suggestions would be useful

cheers

Martin

[phoenix]

"They all do that sir" 

I've got at least one of those nuts missing on each side of mine. Have had for a while with no problems. Same thing, stub snapa off when you try to undo the plastic nut.

IIRC on the one that's missing two, I drilled a small hole and use a stainless steel self tapper in it's place. With plenty of copper grease.

[Audax]

As phoenix said just use a couple of self tapping screws in to hold it back in place.

[Martin]

Thanks Guys

I was just worried that it might come off at speed!

Martin

[collywobble]

Luckily I only broke one off when replacing my alarm siren - it's been sitting on my desk since June when I replaced the siren and the wheel arch hasn't fallen off yet! I did think about superglueing or Aralditing it back in place but as it doesn't seem to do much I probably never will!

[Max Headroom]

When you reassemble them, a gnats (aircraft technical term) of silicone grease on the thread can stop them being so hard to undo next time.

Only use 'silicone' grease though!

[harryO]

After having a few of these snap - they also hold the side trim/threshold? running below the doors - I now spray with WD40 and give them a hard squeeze with pliers before trying to undo them. They are rarely reusable once the rust sets in and at least it preserves the studs.

[Max Headroom]

Theyre plastic. WD40 will rot the plastic with time and they will break easily. Only silicone spray or slicone grease for plastics

[harryO]

If only they would break easily! However, the WD40 is just for getting them off. More often than not, the plastic nut is well and truly fixed to the stud and without some pre-treatment, turning the nut will break the stud. I would go with silicone grease before refitting, but having only removed any single nut once, I don't know how long it would last. It's a another poor method which Saab used for fixing trim etc.