Nutsert/Rivnut removal

[jbowe21]

Hi all. Long story short, I installed some fenders on my JLU that required the use of the smittybilt nutsert tool. That worked well but I'm now looking to upgrade to some more expensive fenders that use the clip method like OEM fenders. Any idea how to remove the nutserts? Someone in a non-Jeep forum recommended using a 'step drill bit' to drill them out. Can anyone confirm or give a better suggestion on how to remove these pesky nutserts? I haven't seen much information out there on nutsert removal which worries me but I thought I'd ask.

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[XJfanatic]

Just like a pop rivet you will need to drill or grind the head off

 

[19 JLUR Bright Whit3]

Hi all. Long story short, I installed some fenders on my JLU that required the use of the smittybilt nutsert tool. That worked well but I'm now looking to upgrade to some more expensive fenders that use the clip method like OEM fenders. Any idea how to remove the nutserts? Someone in a non-Jeep forum recommended using a 'step drill bit' to drill them out. Can anyone confirm or give a better suggestion on how to remove these pesky nutserts? I haven't seen much information out there on nutsert removal which worries me but I thought I'd ask.

Just wondering if you'll need to remove the nutsert to install your new fender. Drilling it out will leave a hole. Also, do you have access to the back end of the nutsert? That will be the crushed part. My .02

 

[jbowe21]

Just wondering if you'll need to remove the nutsert to install your new fender. Drilling it out will leave a hole. Also, do you have access to the back end of the nutsert? That will be the crushed part. My .02

Thanks for the reply! The nutserts are currently in the pre-drilled holes that the OEM fenders were clipped into originally. Probably 5-6 nutserts per fender. Those holes (bare) are what I need access to in order to clip the new fenders in ?. Also, I've got slim access to the back end. I can feel them with my fingers but can't do much with them.

 

[19 JLUR Bright Whit3]

Thanks for the reply! The nutserts are currently in the pre-drilled holes that the OEM fenders were clipped into originally. Probably 5-6 nutserts per fender. Those holes (bare) are what I need access to in order to clip the new fenders in ?. Also, I've got slim access to the back end. I can feel them with my fingers but can't do much with them.

Yes, you'll need to drill them out and hope the backs just fall out.

 

[hoag4147]

Thanks for the reply! The nutserts are currently in the pre-drilled holes that the OEM fenders were clipped into originally. Probably 5-6 nutserts per fender. Those holes (bare) are what I need access to in order to clip the new fenders in ?. Also, I've got slim access to the back end. I can feel them with my fingers but can't do much with them.

Possibly a Sawzall or thin grinder blade on back where you feel them with finger ?‍

 

[Sheepjeep]

drill will be your safest bet, you can also use a grinder, or i have used a cutting bit on a air hammer, you could also use a cold chisel to cut/crush it. really depends what you can get your hands on and fits in the space you are working with

basically when you install in the rivnut it compresses the back side so that there is a lipped surface on the front and back of the rivnut that is hugging the body of the jeep, you cut or deform one of those lips and it should just fall right out

also the rivnut material minus the threaded section is pretty thin so easy to cut

 

[JuzaMe]

We use a lot of riv-nuts in our product and I've had to remove quite a few. Drilling them out with the same size bit that you used to install them is best. If you're not familiar with installing them, they use a hole that's quite a bit larger than the screw size, i.e., a 10-32 riv-nut requires a 19/64" drill bit.

 

[Lohkay]

Hi all. Long story short, I installed some fenders on my JLU that required the use of the smittybilt nutsert tool. That worked well but I'm now looking to upgrade to some more expensive fenders that use the clip method like OEM fenders. Any idea how to remove the nutserts? Someone in a non-Jeep forum recommended using a 'step drill bit' to drill them out. Can anyone confirm or give a better suggestion on how to remove these pesky nutserts? I haven't seen much information out there on nutsert removal which worries me but I thought I'd ask.

Just out of curiosity, what fenders are you upgrading to? I'm asking because in my case I went the other way, I had the maxterrain plastic fenders with clips and went to steel fenders with bolt/nutserts. I thought about if I wanted to go back and figured I'd just use bolts and washers instead of the clips.

 

[mikej]

I had to go through this when I installed the fender retention kit from AAL. I spun one of the rivnuts and couldn’t use it as an anchor for a bolt anymore. But since it spun, a drill just did the same thing and wouldn’t bite. Ultimately I ended up using the Dremel to grind off the ridge and push the nut through. Took some paint with it, but it’s aluminum and behind the fender, so I just left it.

The above is a long way of saying: try the drill first, but be prepared to grind.

 

[jbowe21]

Just out of curiosity, what fenders are you upgrading to? I'm asking because in my case I went the other way, I had the maxterrain plastic fenders with clips and went to steel fenders with bolt/nutserts. I thought about if I wanted to go back and figured I'd just use bolts and washers instead of the clips.

I'm looking to upgrade to these Bushwacker Hyperform Fender Flares. They're on sale right now I believe. Looking at the install instructions, step 12, it looks like clips are the only way to go based on how they attach to the fender itself (slides up and snaps into place).

 

[jbowe21]

I had to go through this when I installed the fender retention kit from AAL. I spun one of the rivnuts and couldn’t use it as an anchor for a bolt anymore. But since it spun, a drill just did the same thing and wouldn’t bite. Ultimately I ended up using the Dremel to grind off the ridge and push the nut through. Took some paint with it, but it’s aluminum and behind the fender, so I just left it.

The above is a long way of saying: try the drill first, but be prepared to grind.

I looked up the fender retention kit from AAL out of curiosity and it looks like the plastic fender washers in that kit can save me from having to remove the rivnuts since they take the place of the plastic clips on the fender. Not sure if that made sense but it will work for what I need! Thank you!

 

[jbowe21]

I had to go through this when I installed the fender retention kit from AAL. I spun one of the rivnuts and couldn’t use it as an anchor for a bolt anymore. But since it spun, a drill just did the same thing and wouldn’t bite. Ultimately I ended up using the Dremel to grind off the ridge and push the nut through. Took some paint with it, but it’s aluminum and behind the fender, so I just left it.

The above is a long way of saying: try the drill first, but be prepared to grind.

Me again... Curious how long it took the retention kit from AAL to arrive after you ordered it? Looking to order front and rear kits today now that I know this awesome kit exists.

 

[mikej]

Me again... Curious how long it took the retention kit from AAL to arrive after you ordered it? Looking to order front and rear kits today now that I know this awesome kit exists.

I ordered prior to pandemic, so lead times were very different back then. If it’s listed as “in stock” at AAL, I would expect no more than a week. You could also drop them an email. They usually respond pretty quickly.

 

[Mudduck]

Ive had good luck removing them by over-crushing them. usually the outer rim breaks off and its pretty easy, 1 out of 10 ive had to drill out.

*this will also depend on the quality of your tool. Cheaper riv nut setters will break often times. Another reason i like plus-nuts better. stronger, and easier to remove.

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