Frame Rivet Removal Not So Bad

[MSGGrunt]

I read and read on what was the easiest way to remove frame rivets to replace the inner "C" channel on the rear frame. Everyone talked about grinding them down and punching them out, using a plasma cutter to torch them off, Oxy torch to burn them off to drilling them out.

Well this is what I found worked for me and the removal takes only a couple of minutes per rivet.


First Locate the pesky rivets.


Then take a small grinder with a cut-off wheel and grind a channel all the way through the rivet down to the frame. If you grind an X in the head of the rivet it makes it even easier.

I then used my impact chisel with a sharp broad-head and worked it around the rivet until the head came off.

 

[MSGGrunt]

After the head is off I ground the rivet down flush with the frame.

I drilled into the body of the rivet just a little bit, it didn't take much.

I then took my impact hammer with a pointed bit and hammered them out of the frame. I tried doing this without the drilling and they wouldn't come out.

 

[Granite Grinder]

I don't even bother with the slot, hit with the chisel, then the punch. Wear ear protection and you will P*ss off the neighbours.
Maybe my air chisel is a bit beefier, but I don't need to drill a hole.

 

[MSGGrunt]

End result is a nice clean hole where the rivet used to be. On a safety note, where eye protection, hearing protection and a long sleeve shirt to protect you from the grinder sparks.

 

[MSGGrunt]

My chisel wasn't powerful enough to take off the heads without cutting the slots in the rivet head. I tried this to save time but it worked much better with cutting an X in the head and then hitting it with the chisel. And it didn't take all that much time to cut the slots.

 

[Granite Grinder]

Looks good, mighty noisy though. Pesky rivets

 

[bumfj60]

I HATE rivets with a passion

 

[Slowerthanu]

That is the same process I use. I'm gona hit those frame channels some day.

 

[Elbert]

the fun part is when you can't get to the head of the rivit with the grinder

 

[fred]

Pesky rivets indeed.

I've got the heads off, I've drilled into them, and have been whaling on them with a pin punch and 40 ounce machinist hammer.

Nothing moving. No air tools here. Just bought a new drill bit, maybe that will solve it...
Maybe the torch as well.

 

[Spook50]

I'm going to have to do this with my front and rear bumper mounts.

Not looking forward to that unless I have a big compressor by then.

 

[Joe_E]

I used an air hammer this last go around and it was the easiest way that i have removed them to date. After the rivet sheared off, i drilled into it a little . It then popped out easily with a hammer and punch.