# Replacing Push Pin Plastic Rivets/Body Panel Clips with Rivnut and Bolt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 12, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152 "2024-01-12T19:51:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![YoshiMoshi3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@YoshiMoshi3](https://community.cartalk.com/u/YoshiMoshi3)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/1 "2024-01-12T19:51:48Z")
So I’ve been thinking about replacing the black push pin plastic rivets/body panel clips with rivnuts and bolts. This is on my own daily driver. This would allow for easier removal of splash guards, fender liners, trunk liners etc… This would allow for quicker and easier removal of these items. Even with proper pliers to remove these plastic clips, it seems that sometimes excessive prying is required, and I get worried about denting or scratching something. Not only that, sometimes despite my best intentions, these plastic clips just brake upon their removal. Would there be any negatives in replacing these plastic clips with rivnuts and bolts? As I find the need to remove these plastic clips, I can replace them with something different that is easier to remove. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/2 "2024-01-12T20:00:29Z")
Have you ever had a riv-nut strip in it’s hole when trying remove the bolt? Not fun! What you’re talking about are components that are rarely removed I wouldn’t set myself up and cause a bigger headache for myself. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/3 "2024-01-12T20:07:46Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > I wouldn’t set myself up and cause a bigger headache for myself. > > Tester That seems to be what the OP does with all his posts. ---
**Author:** ![YoshiMoshi3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@YoshiMoshi3](https://community.cartalk.com/u/YoshiMoshi3)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/4 "2024-01-12T20:12:23Z")
I have never stripped a riv-nut before. Yea I could imagine, bolt would spin with the riv-nut, would be a pain to drill out. Go to drill it out and the bolt spins with the riv-nut. How have you stripped a riv-nut before? Is it just if you apply to much torque on the fastener and overtighten it? I was thinking very like fender liners, very little torque would be required. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/5 "2024-01-12T20:18:56Z")
Two words rust. (Couldn’t help it). Plastic doesn’t rust like those nuts do. If you ever worked on some of the older cars with rusted sheet metal screws, you’d never mind the plastic. As a non mechanic though without all the special tools, I just use a side cutter to pop them out. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/6 "2024-01-12T20:22:06Z")
We use to use regular riv-nuts in the products we sold. ![Untitled](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/d/1/d12c272cc43212d320347739d2848a895c863376.jpeg) And this was in 10 gauge steel. Customers complained of the splined holes stripping out when trying to remove the bolts from the riv-nuts. So, we switched over to hex riv-nuts to prevent this. ![hex](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/d/d/dd7c49e66c3ad52ba712c6209ef3492692b003f7.png) Now, imagine how easy it would be to strip out the splines in sheet metal. Don’t create problems for yourself when it comes to your car. Tester ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/7 "2024-01-12T20:24:57Z")
Learn how to deal with the black push pins and buy a bag of extras. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/8 "2024-01-12T22:33:25Z")
Use pliers or pry bars that look like these [https://www.amazon.com/EldHus-Clip-Pliers-Upholstery-Tools/dp/B0C4GJ9RLL/ref=sr\_1\_7?keywords=push+pin+pliers&qid=1705098672&sr=8-7](https://www.amazon.com/EldHus-Clip-Pliers-Upholstery-Tools/dp/B0C4GJ9RLL/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=push+pin+pliers&qid=1705098672&sr=8-7) Makes the pins easier to use. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/9 "2024-01-12T23:55:00Z")
> [@texases](#): > > buy a bag of extras. I expect that’s the better solution. It’ 's usually possible to find those plastic fasteners available by mail from an on-line store, inexpensive. Buy a bunch of them, then you can just replace them with new when they break. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/10 "2024-01-14T21:14:29Z")
All good replies but nothing to keep the OP from asking the same question in different ways to get the same results Like watching a movie ten times and hoping for a different ending. 🙃 ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/11 "2024-01-14T21:55:18Z")
Keeping a stock of all the weirdo plastic fasteners on hand that the typical diy’er encounters is a definite pain. I expect that is the OP’s motivation for asking if there’s a better alternative. Buying them mail-order presents challenges too. For example, will they actually fit? Will the mail order company steal my credit card number and pass it out to the dark web folks? Unfortunately, these sort of parts can’t be purchased from the local 7-11 display rack. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/12 "2024-01-14T22:03:18Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > these sort of parts can’t be purchased from the local 7-11 display rack. No. But most parts stores sell these retainers along with the proper tools as a kit. [https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sca\_esv=598437705&q=help+line+plastic+push+pins+for+cars&tbm=shop&source=lnms&prmd=shivnbmtz#spd=16877585279604788512](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=598437705&q=help+line+plastic+push+pins+for+cars&tbm=shop&source=lnms&prmd=shivnbmtz#spd=16877585279604788512) Tester ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-push-pin-plastic-rivets-body-panel-clips-with-rivnut-and-bolt/194152/13 "2024-01-14T22:12:04Z")
Napa has a good variety of those push pins. I have a variety I’ve accumulated over the years in those plastic drawer organizers. Usually have what I need. They don’t sell bread there though.