*!^*#!!^*

[Nomad]

All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.
I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.
I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?

[oscar]

Originally Posted by Nomad

All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.
I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.
I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?

Buy a new car !!!

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by oscar

Buy a new car !!!

Because my license plate screws are rusted ?
Is this your top shelf advice or can you do better ?

[oscar]

Originally Posted by Nomad

Because my license plate screws are rusted ?
Is this your top shelf advice or can you do better ?

Yep, top shelf advice.

OR....... don't let your screws get wet in the first place.

Steal another car.

[Imladris]

Originally Posted by Nomad

All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.
I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.
I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?

Yes



I could tell you but it'll cost you............

[CARLA]

So your talking about the entire license plate bracket correct? Not just the front plate screws correct? I need details if I'm going to weight in on this project Nomie..

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by CARLA

So your talking about the entire license plate bracket correct? Not just the front plate screws correct? I need details if I'm going to weight in on this project Nomie..

Hi muka. The plate and bracket are off the car. The screws themselves are broken perhaps 1/2' inside the plate screw threaded holes. Im about to embark on another adventure sure to end with me crying and throwing wrenches or possibly burning the house down. Neighbors will hear expletives coming from inside the garage that will cause them to hurry the kids in and lock their doors.

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by Nomad

All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.
I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.
I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?

That might qualify your car as a clunker. If so, you can get $4500 for trade-in.

An alternative would be to use double sided tape to stick the new plate on the old one.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Accountable

That might qualify your car as a clunker. If so, you can get $4500 for trade-in.

An alternative would be to use double sided tape to stick the new plate on the old one.

No the screws must come out even if it means I end up in jail for for causing a disturbance.

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by Nomad

All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.
I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.
I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?

No. What's the metal the things are threaded into? If you can heat it up (No! Not the whole car!) with oxy-acetylene or some small gas torch that might help. You probably won't be able to get them out, especially now that there's a nice piece of hardened steel "Grab It" stuck in. Spark erosion will work if you've got someone who will do it. Perhaps you can drill out the whole thing and re-tap the hole. Other things to try are getting at the far side of the metal, annointing with acid for a day or three (before removal!), drilling a small hole to remove a section of the bolt and thread....

What do these screws screw into? Sheet metal? Cast iron? Alloy?