Seized bolts in assist grip handle

[giosue]

New owner of an LX470 with a stuck and leaking sunroof, currently starting the process of pulling the headliner to get at it and figure out what’s going on.

I’ve hit an early and stupid roadblock, the damn assist grips in the second row, specifically the triangle shaped ones right behind the headrests of the front seats. The bolts are seized up and one good crank with the screwdriver stripped the heads out.

Is there another way to get at these things? I was going to use an extractor set but my drill has clearance issues up against the headliner.

Appreciate any of your best tips.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Those are a bigger size phillips than you think. Try the correct size, maybe it's ph2. If that doesn't work, HF sells an impact screw driver that can attempt to break them loose. You could also cut a slot across with a dremel and use a big flat blade screwdriver.

 

[3_puppies]

X2 on an impact driver

 

[suprarx7nut]

Try a extra large philips bit. Not a normal screwdriver - bigger.

Then an impact with the right driver You might need to put all your might into the fastener pushing the bit IN to the screw. You really want to get it out with the philips driver - it'll never be easier to spin than it is right now.

Silly philips screws. Hate those things.

 

[Malleus]

If you used a Phillips screwdriver, that's why it cammed out. A JIS will take them out; too late now, I know, but if you put OEM screws back in, get a JIS 100-mm screwdriver:

or you can get the Vessel (who makes them for Toyota) for half the price:

 

[nissanh]

The key is to break lose the thread lock on those bolts. First turn to right as you would tightening it, this will break the bond and after that it should spin easily.

 

[FSAuto]

I had a similar issue, didn't use the correct JIS set.

I ended up hammering a socket on it and breaking it loose with a ratchet. Not the most elegant solution but after stripping the threads it felt impossible to get off.

I ended up buying the JIS set mentioned earlier and didn't have an issue with any of the other screws.

 

[HotSoup]

Just bought 2 different Vessel sets...

Out of all my years working on Toyotas I had no idea

 

[dbfw]

Yes to all the above. I had issues with the same one on mine, it was already buggered up by the last person to have it off so I didn't have much chance. I ended up just drilling it out, didn't take long and was fairly easy. You only need to drill out enough of it to pop the head off and slide the assist grip off, then just put some vice grips on the shank and spin it out. I replaced it with new when I went back together and all good. If you end up having to do that, GO SLOW so you don't work harden the bolt and step up bit sizes one at a time to keep the drill centered and not trying to bite too much at a time.

How To: Stuck Sunroof Repair

This has obviously been covered before, but I haven't seen a thread showing what to do with the sunroof cassette once you've got it out of the truck. I'm going to try to focus in on that and just briefly touch on the parts of the process covered in existing threads. Mods, please feel free to...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[medtro]

Disconnect battery if hammer is involved and you have side curtain airbags.

 

[katit]

As above mentioned - bigger bits works great, need to go in very tight. I used electric impact driver. Put bit square and tight, push, and it come out. Lesson learned hard way.

VESSEL JIS screwdrivers - a must. But I use those, you can hit them too

Amazon product ASIN B003BI8HHQ

 

[jLB]

A JIS bit/screwdriver will prevent the issue.

If you’ve damaged the screw head beyond a certain point, these have worked for me, with little effort/drama:

Amazon product ASIN B0000CCXVZ

 

[giosue]

Thank you everyone for your tips, I picked up a set of JIS bits and some JIS screwdrivers, never making this mistake again…

Headliner is out. Ended up having to drill out one of the bolts, it was a goner. One of them I tightened in with my impact driver and a JIS 3 bit to break the thread lock, as someone suggested, and then it spun out like a dream.

Anyone know the part # for the assist grip bolts? Was going to put back in an OEM JIS one.

Update photo:

I noticed right away the sunroof cables are popped out of what I’m assuming are the teeth on the motor? Seems like someone has been up in here before.

Anyway, now it’s time to hop over to the hundreds of threads on leaking/broken sunroofs. Thanks all for the help.

Josh

 

[Dirt J]

Anyone know the part # for the assist grip bolts? Was going to put back in an OEM JIS one.

93311-56035