Hi im looking for some advice, i want to remove the awning rails on my van to replace the mastick but the screw heads are rusted and wont loosen. I cant get a screw driver into most of them they are so bad. I tried drilling one but can't get the head completely off as they are very hard (stainless)??.I see my options as borrowing a hand grinder and grinding the heads off, remove the rails then retrieve the the rest of the screw with pliers. There is not enough room to cut a groove into the head for another driver. Anyone come across the same problem and how did you solve it. Also is there an easy way of puting the black plastic trim that covers the screw heads back in. I recently removed and re seeled the door frame, i just need to get the black trim back in and that job is complete. As with alot of other people i bought a van in good faith and found it leeked. Its been undercover all winter drying out so nows the time get the jobs done properly. I have looked at a lot of the repair info on this site and know what i need to do regarding re seeling, i just need the old screws out first.
If they are rusted then the screws won't be stainless. Well they migth be A2 grade stainless where they can tarnish and bleed a little but not rust.
Stainless screws are soft and the heads will round off easy if the correct fitting screwdriver isn't used. The softness also means they'll drill easy so a decent drill will take the head off no problem.
Sounds like they are regular steel though so you only option is to drill them off. You might be able to get the head off with a dremmel type multitool with a cut off disc but unless your carefull you can easily damage the soft aluminium rail. I'll get a decent drill and drill them off. It's not too bad as I did it on my abbey last year. Once the head is off the shank is easy to remove with grips.
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i'll get some new drills and get the heads off that way then. I feel as if this is never ending, just keep going from one job to the next with this van but it will be worth it in the end. Looks like the mastick has not been changed in years.
Iv just taken my awning rail my caravan tonight and it seemed like the person who have done it before used bathroom sealant on it, iv read that putting the black trim in hot water will soften it enough to get it back in and use a spoon to push to save your thumbs.