Door panel screws question
 

I am SO sick of dealing with these door panel screws that are "WELDED" in place with RUST.��
I just bought 1/4- 20 cage nuts and when they arrive, I am going to replace the old screws with stainless steel hex bolts and washers. Has anyone else tried this?
It seems to me that I would never have to worry about the screws being "welded" in place anymore. Screwdrivers are useless against these screws whenever this happens.

Re: Door panel screws question
 

I used cage nuts too. Didn't have any rust being an Arizona/California truck, but they got cross threaded.
I use #3 phillips flush screws [1/4-20] with a 1/2'' wide head. Works well. Pickup has a home made ''custom'' wood panel. K/5 is padded in vinyl.

Re: Door panel screws question
 

I use stainless steel screws with nylon nut insert (like the ones license plates use).

Re: Door panel screws question
 

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I did what Roboticjunky did, only I used the original screws with the plastic inserts. I still put a little anti-seize on the ends of the screws though.....

LockDoc

Re: Door panel screws question
 

How does one get a cage nut attached?

Thanks

Re: Door panel screws question
 

A cage nut houses a standard nut in a cage with a spring. The cage has two wings that can be pinched together to allow the cage nut to be inserted into a square hole. The wings are then released to hold the cage nut in place.

Here's a video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVUvNzZGlLo

Re: Door panel screws question
 

I've always just wire brushed them after I got them out and put a dab of grease on them going back in

Re: Door panel screws question
 

+1 for antisieze.

FWIW...don t.

Re: Door panel screws question
 

The cage nuts that I ordered came in. I drove to where my truck is being repaired and I knocked out some of the old rusted door panel nuts to replace them. But I made a huge mistake before I realized it. I had a perfectly usable nut still in place on the passenger door on the side that is closest to the hinges. I totally forgot that there is no rear access to be able to put a cage nut on the inside of the door. I had already knocked out the perfectly usable one but it is too late now. Now I must replace it with one of these plastic nuts that can be inserted from the front rather than the rear. What a stupid design! I don't understand why GM did this.

Re: Door panel screws question
 

I always use never-seize on new screws.
If you can't get them out just drill the head of the screw off. Then you can get the door panel off. Then I use vice-grips on the back side and unscrew them to the inside of the door. You can heat them if necessary with the panel off. I was always amazed how quickly these will seize if left unprotected with some type of lube.