How to remove front fender rivets (2021 Sport)

[Chupacabra]

I'm trying to put on the Weathertech front mud guards, and I cannot figure out how to remove those stupid little fender rivets. They just show using a trim removal tool, but they won't budge. Other sites show to push that little pin in the center into the rivet, then pull it out. I've tried pushing it in with a screwdriver, a nail punch, and nothing is working.

I'm about to just drill the damn things out since you don't re-use them anyway, but wondered if this is somehow different on the 21's from all the videos I've watched? It can't be that hard....

Thanks!

Sponsored

 

[sourdough]

Drill them out and replace with same. You can get a kit online(Amazon) that has the pop rivet gun included $22

 

[Rhinebeck01]

I'm trying to put on the Weathertech front mud guards, and I cannot figure out how to remove those stupid little fender rivets. They just show using a trim removal tool, but they won't budge. Other sites show to push that little pin in the center into the rivet, then pull it out. I've tried pushing it in with a screwdriver, a nail punch, and nothing is working.

I'm about to just drill the damn things out since you don't re-use them anyway, but wondered if this is somehow different on the 21's from all the videos I've watched? It can't be that hard....

Thanks!

@Chupacabra

Those plastic fender liner rivets are destroyed / not reusable when you take them out. You can take a metal scribe and push into them to remove/destroy or drill them out.

IF you need to replace go to Harbor Freight and buy their rivet gun with rivets.. Not expensive at all and does the job.

 

[Chupacabra]

Thanks guys. I will just drill them out I guess and stop futzing with them.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Thanks guys. I will just drill them out I guess and stop futzing with them.

@Chupacabra

So you don't lets say make a mess with the drill bit slipping..... DO take a scribe or pointy nail, etc. and make an indent in the rivet... it will help keep the drill bit that you will use from slipping around..

 

[Chupacabra]

Yeah, It turned out OK drilling them out. Plus the lower plastic push pin things are one time use also so I don't feel to bad about drilling out the center pins on those things. If ever want to take these offI'll have to get one of those plastic rivet things. Or maybe I should just get one and have it handy

Mud flaps are on now, and look good to me. I hope it keeps the damage down on the rear fender flares and doors when driving off-road on gravel and stuff. Can't hurt I wouldn't think.

 

[Jeff2018]

Hi John,

Yeah, It turned out OK drilling them out. Plus the lower plastic push pin things are one time use also so I don't feel to bad about drilling out the center pins on those things. If ever want to take these offI'll have to get one of those plastic rivet things. Or maybe I should just get one and have it handy

Mud flaps are on now, and look good to me. I hope it keeps the damage down on the rear fender flares and doors when driving off-road on gravel and stuff. Can't hurt I wouldn't think.

Just wondering how the reinstall went. I need to pull the front inner fenders to install a skid. There's certainly not much to those liners. Did you just use metal pop rivets to reinstall yours?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[omnitonic]

I was annoyed that I had to buy a rivet tool, because my standard pop rivet tool no espeako el plastico. When I finally got a plastic rivet tool, I was pretty impressed. I can see using those in other places. They're actually kind of cool.

 

[Jeff2018]

Hi Michael,

I was annoyed that I had to buy a rivet tool, because my standard pop rivet tool no espeako el plastico. When I finally got a plastic rivet tool, I was pretty impressed. I can see using those in other places. They're actually kind of cool.

I need a bigger garage for all the new tools and assembly aids for this Jeep... lol

Just to avoid any mistakes, do you know what size plastic rivets you ended up using? I'm looking on Amazon and the number of assorted rivets provided with their tools probably won't be enough for both inner fender liners. I'd like to make sure I am buying the right ones. (Also, where did you buy yours?)

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[omnitonic]

Do you know what size plastic rivets you ended up using?

Nope. It was one of the ones in the kit I got on Amazon for like $30. I got the tool for like $20.

I probably could have come up with stuff that was even cheaper, but this worked, and it worked pretty damn well. I could actually see using plastic rivets to attach other things. Like the door-mounted skank traps I keep filled with extra skunky weed whenever I need my ex to sign some papers. ?

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Hi Michael,



I need a bigger garage for all the new tools and assembly aids for this Jeep... lol

Just to avoid any mistakes, do you know what size plastic rivets you ended up using? I'm looking on Amazon and the number of assorted rivets provided with their tools probably won't be enough for both inner fender liners. I'd like to make sure I am buying the right ones. (Also, where did you buy yours?)

Thanks,

Jeff

@Jeff2018

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/plastic-rivets-and-tool.22297/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6JXC4Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0c1xCbK9RXTAP

Harbor Freight sell a rivet gun with plastic rivets for cheap, also. They work well.

 

[Chupacabra]

Hi John,



Just wondering how the reinstall went. I need to pull the front inner fenders to install a skid. There's certainly not much to those liners. Did you just use metal pop rivets to reinstall yours?

Thanks,

Jeff

Hey Jeff,

When you put the Weathertech mudflaps on, they use screws with those metal backing clips in place of the rivets. The only time I'd replace the plastic rivets is if I took the mudflaps off.

I did buy the plastic rivet tool at Harbor Freight just to have it on hand since I'll probably need it eventually anyway.

 

[Jeff2018]

@Rhinebeck01

@Jeff2018

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/plastic-rivets-and-tool.22297/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6JXC4Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0c1xCbK9RXTAP

Harbor Freight sell a rivet gun with plastic rivets for cheap, also. They work well.

Perfect! Thanks for the info on the rivet size. Another tool and spare rivets that I may never touch again. lol You can never have too many tools!

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Jeff2018]

Hi John,

Hey Jeff,

When you put the Weathertech mudflaps on, they use screws with those metal backing clips in place of the rivets. The only time I'd replace the plastic rivets is if I took the mudflaps off.

I did buy the plastic rivet tool at Harbor Freight just to have it on hand since I'll probably need it eventually anyway.

Thanks for the input. I will removing the inners to install an engine skid. Hopefully the inners will fit back in place after installing the skid. If so, everything will go back to stock, until at least the inners are upgraded.

Take Care,

Jeff

 

[Chupacabra]

Hi John,

Thanks for the input. I will removing the inners to install an engine skid. Hopefully the inners will fit back in place after installing the skid. If so, everything will go back to stock, until at least the inners are upgraded.

Take Care,

Jeff

I think you'll also want some extra of those plastic push-button trim panel things with the barbs on them. I ended up just cutting mine off and pushing them through vs trying to save them. There's a few on each side that you'll probably have to remove if you're taking the fender liners out. I'm thinking it's a LOT easier to just use new ones. I think I'll order me up an assortment of them on Amazon or something to have on hand as well.

Sponsored