Need help with stripped screws on side rails

Looking for help. Was installing a MX4 cover on short bed. I have to take out the side rails. The screws on the side rail will just not budge no matter what and now the screw heads are all stripped.

Please any recommendations or options will be very helpful.

thanks,

 

Dremel head off , remove rail and then use a good pair of vise grips to turn stud out .

 

You can use a extractor tool. Drill the head off. Get a set of left handed drill bits.

 

Anyone know why it is so hard to unscrew the rails? I literally put all my body weight on it and the crazy screws did not budge even a little. Totally stripped two of them so far. THis is a brand new 2019 trd pro so nothing is rusted. Has anyone else have this issue?

 

There have been a few.
Spray with wd40 first and let it sit for a bit.

 

Get yourself a can of PB Blaster or penetrol and spray em and let em soak for a bit. Then get crafty with a Dremel so you can get some pliers on the head. Or better, make a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone in a spray bottle and use that. Unfortunately I don't have the source anymore but that's been lab tested as a superior penetrating oil.

 

This is happened to me right now, anyways works best for you?

 

Do you have the right size and quality torx bit?

 

Yes I have both

 

On my 19 they came out easy, but I definitely put anti seize on them when putting them back in. Pretty tough to strip out a torx head, drilling out may be your only option.

 

I might just go with a Dremel and flathead, those seem like my best options as of now

 

I just had to do this on my 19. I had to drill out 3 of them. Left hand "easy outs" they're called. Worked like a charm.

 

I might try that out, what size did you use?

 

If you have striped out the torq flutes of the screws, you most likely will not get them out with a screw extractor. If you don't live in the rust belt then they are most likely over torqued during install. If you drill or cut off the heads you may find they will unscrew easily from the insert once the rail is removed.

To drill off the heads get a drill bit just bigger than the thread diameter. Use the indentation of the screw to center the bit and drill until the head pops free. Do your best to keep the bit centered as you drill. You can tilt the drill if necessary to recenter it. Once the head pops off stop drilling. Once all are drilled off remove the rail and use a quality pair of vise grips to grab the remaining screw exposed and turn it out. If it doesn't turn easily then spray liberally with penetrating oil and allow it to soak.


Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

I used the #2 and #3 bits. It was just a 3 piece Craftsman set. My threads were completely stripped somehow. I used these and eventually the bit bit the bolt and spun it right out. Only one of them actually popped the head of the bolt off. Then you just use some Vise Crips and unspin it. Time consuming but it can be done.

 

Three days later and I’m still working on it

 

We're you able to get it out?

I didn't have to use an extractor or vice grip. What worked for me was using a spade bit on the head and hit it with a hammer. That should loosen the screw enough to twist it out with pliers. Make sure you hit the bit on the head a couple times before so you can make a small indent to get enough leverage.

Hope that helps!

 

Thanks man I appreciate the help! I went ahead and got an extractor kit off of Amazon and thankfully it ended up working out! I appreciate the help though

 

That's a good set, I bought one maybe 25 years ago that has 5 or 6 of them. I had to use it when one of the bolts on my dirt bikes radiator broke off in the frame, unfortunately they didn't work on it even after soaking with pb blaster & tapping it with a punch.

Part of the issue was not getting the thing to drill dead center, not always easy to do. I ended up drilling the bolt out with larger and larger bits from a set with 32nds, then ran the original sized tap through it and it worked.

 

Which ones did you get?
I have two very different sets and the one pictured above has been the best.