Hardtop Panel Bracket Screws Stripped from the Factory

[Begster]

I looked around and only saw mentions of hardtop mounting screws stripping, not any already stripped on factory installed brackets.

I recently got the Bestop Sunrider for hardtops, and was looking to install it this past weekend. According to the instructions, the two brackets on the front lip of the rear shell that the two removable panels clamp to need to be removed and replaced with a bracket from the Bestop kit.

I looked at the brackets and one of them has both torx heads already stripped. The deformed heads clearly show that they were being tightened when it was stripped. I'm the original owner, and I've never touched these.


Weighing the options of dealing with going to a dealer to have them fix it due to it being Ford's mess up (and them telling me they don't care because those bolts are working fine as is), and just extracting them myself. Although I have a laundry list of things it needs to go to a dealer for.

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[j_marinelli]

If I was in your shoes, I'd probably just pick up a stripped torx removal set and remove them myself to try and insure no damage is down to the top. But then again I'm always looking for an excuse to by a new tool

Sample of a kit:

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-61980-Strip-Screw-Extract/dp/B00RGN571Q/ref=sr_1_5?sr=8-5

 

[Brian_B]

If I was in your shoes, I'd probably just pick up a stripped torx removal set and remove them myself to try and insure no damage is down to the top. But then again I'm always looking for an excuse to by a new tool

I got a set of these from Harbor Freight of all places to remove one of the striker plate bolts for the tailgate that I had stripped - it worked great, and that bolt was stuck stuck pretty ridiculous.

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