Snapped off screw while mounting shorty antenna

blbrchnk · May 15, 2009

So as the title says, I was installing a shorty antenna and while screwing the thing in, the screw snapped off. it was just about in all the way too.

So my dilemma is how do I get it out or resolve this issue? I have that drab-it drill system that drills into broken screws to pull them out in reverse, but the screw is too small for it.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Steel Horse · May 15, 2009

How deep in the socket did it break off?

And because I can't resist... I'm sure the instructions didn't say to tighten until you hear a snap then back off a quarter turn.

blbrchnk · May 15, 2009

Steel Horse said:
How deep in the socket did it break off?

And because I can't resist... I'm sure the instructions didn't say to tighten until you hear a snap then back off a quarter turn.

It is almost all the way in. It wasn't doing anything weird, it was just going in then *snap*. It seemed really soft for some reason.

Steel Horse · May 16, 2009

blbrchnk said:
It is almost all the way in. It wasn't doing anything weird, it was just going in then *snap*. It seemed really soft for some reason.

I'm not sure how you could get it out. I wonder if you got a bad antenna or what caused it to break like that. What material is it made out of do you know?

blbrchnk · May 16, 2009

Steel Horse said:
I'm not sure how you could get it out. I wonder if you got a bad antenna or what caused it to break like that. What material is it made out of do you know?

I have no idea what it is made out of. It really annoys me that something so simple has now become a pain in the rear. I wonder if I could just replace the antenna base?

Steel Horse · May 17, 2009

blbrchnk said:
I have no idea what it is made out of. It really annoys me that something so simple has now become a pain in the rear. I wonder if I could just replace the antenna base?

That's the only thing I can think of without destroying something in the process. Might call the local Ford dealer and see if they have any ideas. They will probably try to sell you a new base though.

blbrchnk · Jun 5, 2009

Steel Horse said:
That's the only thing I can think of without destroying something in the process. Might call the local Ford dealer and see if they have any ideas. They will probably try to sell you a new base though.

I can get a new base for around $20, so thats not too bad, but how do you get to that piece? Would I have to take the fender completely off?

jcode68 · Jun 5, 2009

You shouldn't need to remove the fender. Just remove the tire and the inner splash shield. That should allow you to get to the base for removal. Of course you will also need to remove the plug from the back of the radio, which means tearing into the upper stack a bit.

blbrchnk · Jun 5, 2009

jcode68 said:
You shouldn't need to remove the fender. Just remove the tire and the inner splash shield. That should allow you to get to the base for removal. Of course you will also need to remove the plug from the back of the radio, which means tearing into the upper stack a bit.

I have a custom touchscreen computer that I built and use in place of the standard radio so I am very familiar with the wirings behind the dash so that shouldn't be a problem. I have to replace my upper strut mounts next time I have a chance, so maybe I will take a gander in there during that.

imfamousjim · Jun 5, 2009

with a little bit of tugging and twisting the plug will come out of the bottom of the base, do that and save yourself the time to pull the dash apart.

I was just working on a 2008 in the shop and for no reason i had a hell of a time getting 2 of the 3 the screws backed out... i dont know if the threads were gunked up or started to rust or what. maybe some are just bad? (it is a ford afterall)

blbrchnk · Jun 5, 2009

imfamousjim said:
with a little bit of tugging and twisting the plug will come out of the bottom of the base, do that and save yourself the time to pull the dash apart.

I was just working on a 2008 in the shop and for no reason i had a hell of a time getting 2 of the 3 the screws backed out... i dont know if the threads were gunked up or started to rust or what. maybe some are just bad? (it is a ford afterall)

You talking about the 6 screws that hold the center trim on? If so, I have started having issues with those too. I think it is more of an issue with the holes than it is the screws as I could still fit all the screws in the other good holes, yet none of the screws would work in the two stripped holes.

In regards to the antenna though, if it is that hard to remove it, I would imagine it would be pretty difficult to insert it into the new base plate, right?

imfamousjim · Jun 5, 2009

blbrchnk said:
You talking about the 6 screws that hold the center trim on? If so, I have started having issues with those too. I think it is more of an issue with the holes than it is the screws as I could still fit all the screws in the other good holes, yet none of the screws would work in the two stripped holes.

In regards to the antenna though, if it is that hard to remove it, I would imagine it would be pretty difficult to insert it into the new base plate, right?

maybe im not thinking about the same thing? the piece that bolts on to the fender only has 3 torx screws holding it on. if so, yeah, the problem is definitely with the nuts in the fender that are making the main problem.

it pushes right back in nice and easy (atleast it did for me)

blbrchnk · Jun 5, 2009

imfamousjim said:
maybe im not thinking about the same thing? the piece that bolts on to the fender only has 3 torx screws holding it on. if so, yeah, the problem is definitely with the nuts in the fender that are making the main problem.

it pushes right back in nice and easy (atleast it did for me)

Yeah I somehow got that confused and was talking about the interior trim around the radio. Dunno how I got that far off base.

Preston951 · Jun 5, 2009

An option could be drilling a small hole in the antenna piece that broke off, then inserting a screwdriver in the hole and taking it out. Worth a shot before you take all that stuff apart!

blbrchnk · Jun 6, 2009

Preston951 said:
An option could be drilling a small hole in the antenna piece that broke off, then inserting a screwdriver in the hole and taking it out. Worth a shot before you take all that stuff apart!

I have that "Grab-It" kit that is supposed to removed snapped off screws, but it is sort of a tiny bolt and didn't really work on it. I guess I could try the screw driver method.

Thanks!

Snapped off screw while mounting shorty antenna

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