Mudflap screw stuck but spins

Hey guys, so i need to remove my mudflap (rekgen) but the screw wont come out.

I’ve loosened it and it spins freely but it wont come out. I’m thinking the part it screws into is stripped.

Anyone have advice on how to remove it? I already tried just pulling with pliers in case it was only slightly stuck...

By the way i need to remove it because the washer is mangled from tire rubbing and the sharp edge could easily slice the tire

thanks in advance!
Adam

 

I believe it threads into a threaded insert basically, maybe the threded insert is spinning with the screw?

Looks pretty annoying, I hope others can help more.

 

Right?! I’m don’t know what else to do.
I think i’d take a stripped screw over this...

 

Maybe wedge a screwdriver against the backside on the insert. Maybe it’ll help stop it from spinning.

 

I noticed something when I installed mine a few weeks ago. I guess the slightest bit of overtightening causes the screw to spin freely in the hole. Is there a plastic insert in the hole? I don't know.

I just know that despite trying to be very careful, there's probably 1 stripped screw on each of my flaps. Hope I never have to remove them.

 

Reach up behind and grab the plastic insert with pliers and unscrew.

 

Slide dykes behind the backside and snip the bolt so u can remove the whole flap then work on it.

 

Grind it off if nothing else works.

 

It's probably this guy and they're a pita to remove. These are used in a couple places to screw into when attaching mud flaps. As others said, reach from behind and hold it or try to depress the sides to disengage.

$12 15 Fender Liner Screw Grommets Compatible with Toyota Tacoma Tundra

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040CVOLS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_fabc_BFNPAZKNMJFBJP71HJFE?_encoding=UTF8

 

Hmm okay thank you all for the advice!

I'm looking around to see how I can reach around from behind but I don't really see a way to access it. I dont have dykes so I'm thinking I may need to hacksaw this bolt off... the edge of that washer is just waiting to slash my tire

 

clamp a vise grip on the washer from the side and then put pressure on it to bind against the screw as you back it out..

 

Well I got it out!
Followed the advice of @Skydvrr and @Smacky2020 went under the truck trying to hold the edge of the plastic grommet with a needle nose while backing the screw out but that didnt work. The plastic grommet was toast and gripping the edge wasnt helping so I cut the screw head off with a hack saw (held the saw still and spun the screw with an impact driver out of laziness). The piece of screw that was still in the truck wouldnt come out so I pushed it in and it sounded like it fell downward out of the way...its in the abyss now haha

Rocking 3 mud flaps for until I order some new grommets


Thanks again for all the help everybody

 

When in doubt hold your nuts

 

That's a better solution than trying to manipulate a hacksaw in those close quarters.

 

I had this same problem. One of those fasteners broke from the self tapping screw. Look underneath, grab a tool such as channel locks or anything that can grip that plastic peice that's spinning freely tight. Hold the channel locks tight and unscrew the bolt with it.