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Thread: Instrument cluster lower two aluminum thumb screws.

  1. #1
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    Instrument cluster lower two aluminum thumb screws.

    Is it safe to spray some pb blaster on these nuts/screws I can’t get these off.


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  2. #2
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    No e30s, again :(
    yes but that probably won't help. you are talking about the ones you get to from right above the knee area that hold that plastic trim cover on?
    No e30s again.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by superj View Post
    yes but that probably won't help. you are talking about the ones you get to from right above the knee area that hold that plastic trim cover on?
    Yes that is correct those bastards are tight


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  4. #4
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    I would not use pb blaster inside my car, especially for those that you are kind of spraying at blindly. I’ve had those stuck before also, the ironic thing is that a regular old school pliers with the round jaws gets right at them
    https://www.homedepot.com/p/6-in-Sli...7-49/206829361

  5. #5
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    No e30s, again :(
    yes, I was going to say just grab them with pliers.

    I don't know why previous owners crank those suckers on when they remove them. it makes them so hard to turn later on
    No e30s again.

  6. #6
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    PB blaster is good stuff but damn does it stank

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by msservices View Post
    I would not use pb blaster inside my car, especially for those that you are kind of spraying at blindly. I’ve had those stuck before also, the ironic thing is that a regular old school pliers with the round jaws gets right at them
    https://www.homedepot.com/p/6-in-Sli...7-49/206829361
    You rock will be stoping at the store after work


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  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by superj View Post
    yes, I was going to say just grab them with pliers.

    I don't know why previous owners crank those suckers on when they remove them. it makes them so hard to turn later on
    Absolutely have to take the good with the bad the new e30 I just bought was taken well care of


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  9. #9
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    I just thought of something else...go through your 12 point sockets, standard and metric, and see if any will fit and grab the teeth on those

  10. #10
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    No e30s, again :(
    those are ultra fine. they seem knurled just for fingers to not slip on them. I don't think anything but pliers would fit
    No e30s again.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by msservices View Post
    I just thought of something else...go through your 12 point sockets, standard and metric, and see if any will fit and grab the teeth on those
    Got it out perfectly just ordered new gears for the cluster


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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by superj View Post
    those are ultra fine. they seem knurled just for fingers to not slip on them. I don't think anything but pliers would fit
    The pliers trick worked perfectly on the LEFT side only due to it having more room to work with the right side I couldn’t get a good grip on I had to lay under the steering wheel head on the carpet lol and use some kitchen liner to get a better grip on the knurled screw


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  13. #13
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    Glad you got them off..

    On a side note - I believe those are aluminum so a rust remover / penetrate - prolly wouldn't do too much to help with initial torque..

  14. #14
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    No e30s, again :(
    they are aluminum, you are right
    No e30s again.

  15. #15
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    For anyone that cares to see the finish product IMG_0935.jpgIMG_0937.jpg


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