how do i remove arch liner

c5tto · Post by **c5tto** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:32 pm

i went to remove my rear arch liner on my s1 today and removed the bolts but at the side nearest to door there is 2 plastic clips, didnt want to break them, do thy just pop off?

robin · Post by **robin** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:46 pm

If it's like my S2 ...

You need a cross head screw driver, unscrew the centers which are effectively plastic screws - sometimes these just spin, in which case you can give them a bit of help with a blade pushed in behind the head to lever them. Once they're out, the plastic outer is like a rawl plug - with the center screw removed, the plug will now come out of the hole.

But, I remember that on my S1 I had some bolts into rawl nuts (rubber bungs that expand when you screw in the bolt) and these tended to corrode such that the whole affair would just spin; in this case rough love with the angle grinder will generate enough heat to melt the liner so it just pops over them

Cheers,
Robin

Post by **campbell** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:10 pm

When we did mine a couple of weeks back, it was bolts towards the rear and just the plastic fasteners towards the front...plus maybe a bolt behind the tyre, IIRC.

The liner had already worn itself away from the bolts - so they just rattled - and thus only the placcy fasteners to tease off, as per Robin's post.

Campbell

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:50 am

Halford sell them if you do break them. They are crap and most will either just spin or chew the screwdriver slot....

robin · Post by **robin** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:48 am

It helps if you have a good fitting screw driver and put more pressure onto the head, otherwise the screw driver just rides up. An impact driver won't work in this case as it will just hammer then screw back into the thread

The angle grinder will make short work of it, though

Cheers,
Robin

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:45 am

Hacksaw is just as quick and less likely to kill you....

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:02 am

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:Hacksaw is just as quick and less likely to kill you....

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:25 pm

You knows it!

The alternative is Dom with his JCB but that would remove the clam from the wheel arch liner....

robin · Post by **robin** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:14 am

TBH, I cannot see how one would use a hacksaw to attack these plastic thingmies; now I think we can compromise on a creme brulee blow torch ...

Cheers,
Robin

c5tto · Post by **c5tto** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:39 am

got the job done yesterday, not as awkward as it looks really. took the elise out for a drive yesterday for first time in 4 months. now i have to get the hard top off.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 2:33 pm

I cut just behind the head after masking the clam, then you can just knock them out.

More of a pain (Literally) is cutting the ones that hold the non-driving light grill in...