fitting adjustable boot lid posts

[Sheriff]

Have finally got around to trying to fit an adjustable boot lid spring post.   Have drilled, twisted, bashed, the old one trying to get it out to no avail.  Has anyone else fitted these?   What's the secret?  Does the existing post fit inside the raised flange bit, or does the whole post and flange come out?  My largest drill bit is 3/8th so I might have to get hold of a larger one.  Any suggestions?   Take it to a workshop and get some heat put on it??    thanks in anticipation.   Mike.

[RET]

Mike,

Drilling them out certainly works if you've got a big enough drill.

I got hold of a length (maybe 14") of 3/4" square bar with a 1/2" or thereabouts hole in one end (thanks Maco!). You fit this over the old post, pointing straight back, and push it towards the side of the car. By the time it's close to the quarter panel, the old pin - flange and all - will be half-off, and a bit of jiggling up and down will come away, leaving a cleanly punched out circle.

You can probably achieve the same thing with a decent set of vice-grips and a short length of pipe to give you a bit more leverage.

Armed with that, a skinny spanner, an allen-key socket and a ratchet handle, you can have the old one out and a new one in and tensioned inside 15 minutes.

cheers
RET

[customFC]

Vice grips work fine, just needs a bit of muscle and twisting.
Regards
Alex

[Sheriff]

Thanks for the tips.  Used vice grips and managed to pry it off.  New one fitted, works like a charm.    Mike.