Southern California Club Xterra

Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX General Discussion => Topic started by: Jayrat on November 14, 2014, 08:49:48 AM

Title: Removing wet box
Post by: Jayrat on November 14, 2014, 08:49:48 AM

OK. to start if this has already been answered elsewhere I apologize , I couldn't find it,
 I'm Trying to remove the wetbox from the roof rack , and the screws just spin, does anyone have any suggestions or do I need to drill them out? ???
Cheers J

Title: Re: Removing wet box
Post by: Ghost65 on November 14, 2014, 09:22:37 AM

If the torx bolts are just spinning, then they may need to be drilled.

Here is a photo of the box removed:
(http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae195/DzrtX/The%20GhostX/GhostX%20Mods/DSC_0001.jpg) (http://s971.photobucket.com/user/DzrtX/media/The%20GhostX/GhostX%20Mods/DSC_0001.jpg.html)

I believe there are four torx bolts holding the wet box onto the factory roof rack?

The torx bolts that are held in the roof and roof rack utilize very cheap fasteners referred to as "revnuts" that are pressed into the thin roof sheet metal.  

When Nissan installs them the assemblers use a thread locking compound similar to blue Loc-tite.  If too much force is applied, the revnut spins in the roof/roof rack metal.  

One way to loosen them is to actually heat the torx bolt, and gently turn the bolt both clockwise and counter-clockwise until they extract.
(http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae195/DzrtX/The%20GhostX/GhostX%20Mods/DSC_0005.jpg) (http://s971.photobucket.com/user/DzrtX/media/The%20GhostX/GhostX%20Mods/DSC_0005.jpg.html)
We used a 250W soldering iron and about 2-3 minutes of heat on each torx bolt.

This can be very patience trying, but it has worked in the past.

Roof rack torx bolts removed:
(http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae195/DzrtX/The%20GhostX/GhostX%20Mods/DSC_0009.jpg) (http://s971.photobucket.com/user/DzrtX/media/The%20GhostX/GhostX%20Mods/DSC_0009.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Removing wet box
Post by: knightrider on November 14, 2014, 10:27:50 AM

just for a little correction, they are rivnuts, they are installed similar to rivets, but have threads like nuts, thus rivnut.  when installed properly they are very nice, but it seems nissan often doesn't tighten them properly, add the copious amounts of blue loctite that nissan uses to these small bolts and you have disaster.  heating with a soldering iron like john suggested softens the loctite to help make the removal easier.  if they are spinning, your already screwed... you need to get to the back of the bolts to hold the rivnut with plyers to stop it from spinning.

Title: Re: Removing wet box
Post by: Jayrat on November 14, 2014, 01:29:42 PM

Thanks you very much, I'll give it a shot this weekend, I need access to the top of roof, so I can run wiring to my light bar .
Cheers J

Title: Re:
Post by: Toro on November 14, 2014, 02:25:16 PM

If that's the case...removing the headliner is the best way. It's not as hard as you might think. I'd be more than willing to help ifnyou needed it.

Title: Re: Removing wet box
Post by: Jayrat on November 16, 2014, 07:37:29 AM

Thanks again, Hope to see you on the trails