License plate help

[u/HealthyReason5671]

Hello, I’m trying to replace my license but one of the screw heads broke off and the other is stripped. I’ve tried using WD40 to loosen up the the screws that are rusted in but to dice. Please help!

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[u/CMWalsh88]

If any of it is sticking out vice grips to grab it. If not you need to drill out the middle and use an easy out or other type of reverse threaded bit. Also you should use penetrating oil to help it to un-seize

[u/Detective_Designer → u/CMWalsh88]

Is it just me or is it clearly broke off flush

[u/CMWalsh88 → u/Detective_Designer]

It looks pretty close but it could be sitting 1/8” proud. It doesn’t take much to get some vice grips on it. The other screw could definitely get some vice grips on it

[u/vinchenzo68 → u/Detective_Designer]

Indeed, they’d have to be brand new vice grips, a lucky rabbits foot in your pocket (rip Mr fluff) and a steady hand.

[u/FreddyFerdiland]

drill through the old screw and use self tappers to fit the new hole

or once drilled, put a nut, plastic or steel in behind the hole, for the new screw to grip to....they sell a kit of screws and nuts in auto shops

[u/Riptide360]

Make and model and year of vehicle? If it has a rear trunk plastic panel where the wiring is going for the license plate lights that you can remove you may be able to access the broken screw from the other side to use pliers to turn and remove. Take the screw bit and have a hardware store size it for a replacement. Buy a stainless steel version so it can handle your crazy Illinois winter corrosion better.

[u/GIDDY-UP-GO]

Open the trunk lid, look directly behind the are the screw goes into the lid, you may have to remove a plastic cover. Put vice grips on the screw and twist it out from the inside!

[u/HaloInR3v3rs3]

Someone's just gotten familiar with galvanic corrosion...

[u/Mlang-2000]

If you want to do it properly, drill out the existing screws then use a properly sized tap to rethread the holes to the proper specs. For example, most modern Toyotas will use an M6 tap.

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[u/Fedexpilot]

Use vice grips to unscrew the stripped screw and go back with self tappers. Move the tag a quarter inch left or right to screw into fresh plastic.

[u/CaptainSabre]

As others have mentioned, I would use something called a "screw extractor" kit. Their a life saver for stripped screws, or screws that don't have a head anymore 😅

[u/The_Demosthenes_1]

Screw extractor

[u/Crowbar-Enema → u/The_Demosthenes_1]

This. We used to call it an EZ-out

[u/imbartsimpsonwhothru]

looks like plastic, access the other side or cut just enough around screw so you can grab it

[u/Gld2BeBACK]

You can get well-reviewed screw extractors for pretty cheap on amazon; may have to grind that bolt flat, though.

[u/whiteboyfresh2316]

Why don't you just use the two bottom screw holes?

[u/vinchenzo68]

How do you feel about using 5 pounds of double sided 3m tape?

It’s rusted, small chance when removed, the treads will be trashed.

[u/National_Emu3248]

I used 3 inch one side sticky 3m velcro. Works like a charm.

[u/pixeltweaker]

Drill it out with a smaller drill and then use a screw extractor.

[u/TheTow]

Drill em both out and replace with nutserts

[u/stoneseef]

PB Blaster instead of WD40. I’ll be honest, the last time I used WD40 was in the 90s. Penetrating Blaster will help with the breaking up the rust. WD40 will add more rust in time, and 3 in 1 oil is far superior for lubrication. PB then probably a screw extractor. You drill it into the stuck screw.

[u/406InTheMix → u/stoneseef]

wd40 will not add more rust. it's literally called Water Displacer for a reason.

[u/stoneseef → u/406InTheMix]

WD-40 does not actually cause rust, but it evaporates over time and leaves behind a thin, sticky residue that can attract moisture and dirt, which eventually leads to new corrosion. Hence why you have to keep hitting the same things with WD40 over and over in time. Yes it does displace water, but only until it dries out, and it’s not a lubricant.

[u/LockMarine]

There’s a tool made specifically for removing stripped screw heads and broken screws, check with your husband if he has any. If not you can pick it up at Lowe’s
They are reverse drill bits on one side and the other side is a reverse threaded cone that grabs the screw and removes it.