Thread: plastic wheel arch liners - easy way to remove rivets?

They look similar to the plastic things that hold the plastic trim on under the doors of a D2.

Flat blade screwdriver and a pair of long nose pliers, generally they break the little winged bits so would say they are single time use only.

dony know of any special tool, but assume there is

H T H

Cheers Ean

A screwdriver into the flat slot, lever the centre up a bit. Side cutters are then used to gently grip and lever the pin out. I've been removing/reusing mine for years (although the P38A pins are a slightly different design without that locking section - see attached pic). I may have broken one or two but no more than that.

When refitting, put the centre pin just into the body and refit the pin. Then tap the pin in with a hammer.

Oh, I did the same with the RRS a couple of weeks ago - I think it used the same pins as you show.

What P38 said.

Hi Bbyer,
I bought a set of pliers that were originally used to trim the outer sheath of plastic off wire. I ground the two ends into a flat fox wedge type shape, the wire shears also had a setting screw so you didn't cut right through the wire, I use the setting screw to stop me cutting the head off the centre pin. Same as P38A, I've been using the same ones for years. I've bought some spares in case I broke any which unfortunately over the years I've broken a few.
Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Nomad9

Hi Bbyer,
I bought a set of pliers that were originally used to trim the outer sheath of plastic off wire. I ground the two ends into a flat fox wedge type shape, the wire shears also had a setting screw so you didn't cut right through the wire, I use the setting screw to stop me cutting the head off the centre pin. Same as P38A, I've been using the same ones for years. I've bought some spares in case I broke any which unfortunately over the years I've broken a few. Hope this helps.

That gives me some encouragement.

I have started to look for some very narrow end cutters, but your idea is better. I was looking at wire strippers but the ones I found were more like side cutters - will keep looking, otherwise it will be the tried and true screwdriver and side cutters routine. The pdf is what I have been finding, ends about an inch wide when I need less than a quarter of that.

Originally Posted by Nomad9

Hi Bbyer,
I bought a set of pliers that were originally used to trim the outer sheath of plastic off wire. I ground the two ends into a flat fox wedge type shape, the wire shears also had a setting screw so you didn't cut right through the wire, I use the setting screw to stop me cutting the head off the centre pin. Same as P38A, I've been using the same ones for years. I've bought some spares in case I broke any which unfortunately over the years I've broken a few.
Hope this helps.

A cunning idea. I have a pair of those in my tool box.

Originally Posted by p38arover

A cunning idea. I have a pair of those in my tool box.

I saw those but bauked at the price, about sixty five dollars here, but I did like the look of them.

As such I am continuing to look for something cheaper such as a very small narrow width end cutter. I looked at electronic supply places and all are too big, (could grind down like you did but am lazy); hence now to try to find some jeweller type or something similar.

Hi Ron,
Exactly, they're the ones, not that brand though, I got mine from SuperCheap, a lot cheaper that $65, hence the reason I didn't mind hoeing into them with a grinder.