Painted Torx bolt removal

[cohocarl]

About to install a set of R.C. A pillar light mounts on my JL when I get the time.

I haven't removed any of the painted Torx bolts on my Mojito yet and was wondering if damaging the painted heads of the Torx bolts is inevitable, or is there a way to remove them as to not damage the paint?

Thx

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[Shenanigans]

You could always try wrapping the torx bit with masking tape or maybe even a cloth tape to try to minimize it. Maybe give your local service departments and body shops a call for advice. Or maybe even stop by a good mom and pop body shop.

 

[Bearded_Dragon]

Just get touch-up paint, you'll need it eventually anyways.

 

[Fuel Fire Desire]

You mean the black painted bolts around the cowl?

Don't be worried about them. They have a very durable finish (powder coat?) and don't mark up with manipulation. Ive had mine off and on at least a dozen times with my light and antenna installs. No marks what so ever. I had an external mirror that used those bolts on my JK, that I also used for a bit on my Jl, probably hundreds of manipulations, and never had a single issue.




The painted over bolts on the door and hood hinges?

Yeah....expect the paint to chip around the bolt head.

 

[OldGuyNewJeep]

Painted bolts for windshield didn’t get marred at all when I took them off to install rugged ridge mirrors. Just be gentle.

Idea: Teflon tape over torx bit?

 

[pangmaster]

You mean the black painted bolts around the cowl?

Don't be worried about them. They have a very durable finish (powder coat?) and don't mark up with manipulation. Ive had mine off and on at least a dozen times with my light and antenna installs. No marks what so ever. I had an external mirror that used those bolts on my JK, that I also used for a bit on my Jl, probably hundreds of manipulations, and never had a single issue.




The painted over bolts on the door and hood hinges?

Yeah....expect the paint to chip around the bolt head.

Agreed on both. No problems with the bolts on the cowls, but when I took off the bolts for the tailgate hinge they chipped immediately.

 

[cohocarl]

Thanks for the replies.
I thought about putting some black tape over the bit and trying that, but I'm sure it's too thick to fit into the head of the bolt, but I like the teflon tape idea.
Will post on how it works.

 

[Zazoh]

The paint on my windshield hinge bolt was so thick it didn’t look like a torx bolt. I had to remove paint to remove bolt. But replaced bolt anyway with the sleeve for the mirror mount.

 

[metallicpea]

Thanks for the replies.
I thought about putting some black tape over the bit and trying that, but I'm sure it's too thick to fit into the head of the bolt, but I like the teflon tape idea.
Will post on how it works.

Did you try the teflon tape idea? How did it work?

 

[Punkindave]

I had a tailgate bolt chip as they seem to have a lot more paint on them and required gentle tapping to get the torx bit engaged enough to remove.
Windscreen bolts seemed to be easier

 

[kimmonia]

Bolts on the windshield hinges came off with just a little extra pressure, the dirt from off roading in the torx inset area makes it hard to tell if paint is gone ... not noticable.

 

[JSFoster75]

Just a thought, and you’ll need to be extremely careful, but you might be able to go around the head of each bolt with an X-Acto knife to cut through the paint so it doesn’t chip.

 

[RubiSc0tt]

MAybe try a piece of latex glove around the torx driver? We use that trick at work for a few different things.

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