So my 1995 Pickup (DX, RWD, automatic) has several components that are attached with metal screws (with cutting threads, not machine screws) screwed directly into plastic inserts in the body. In particular I am talking about the turn and brake signal assemblies. A few of these are already stripped from someone over-torquing the screws and pulling the plastic out. I can easily replace screws, and I can order new signal assemblies, but I haven't found a suitable solution for the damaged plastic bits. I find it amazing that Toyota would cheap-out on this part of the construction - how much would it have cost to put in metal threads here?

Complaining aside, what is the solution? Can you buy replacement plastic inserts somehow? Do they just go in with force? Welding on a piece of steel with threads and switching to a bolt?

Thanks, J_F

 

I think you can buy those. I just took a quick look at toyotapartsdeal and found this. Looking at google images, it might be it.

Toyota Part No.:90075-10008

PROTECTOR,FRONT TURN SI

• Part Description
  PROTECTOR,FR TURN SI
• Replaced By81518-89121

 

You can often find new plastic inserts in the automotive drawers at good hardware stores. I have also just hot glued the inserts hole and redrilled it the way I want.

 

Thanks for the advice!

 

Yes, just replace the inserts. Done all the time. I mostly find a need to do so because the inserts have broken due to aging.

But you can avoid having to replace them if you don't cut new threads on each screw insertion. Be sure to pick up the old threads and you'll get far more cycles from the inserts.

You likely know the trick, but it's easy to pick up the old threads if you slowly turn the screw CCW until it drops, and then start CW to tighten. A simple trick.

 

I'm pretty sure mine are the original ones from 1995, with very brittle plastic. I'll order some from TPD and try switching them. How are they even held in? I guess I can just push 'em in with my fingers?

Edit: holy ˟˟˟˟ shipping to Canada from TPD is crazy. 65$ standard shipping for a 42$ order of a (large) handful of dinky parts... I'll see what the local Crappy Tire has.

 

These fit my 92 Toyota pickup. Used a digital caliper to measure the hole size, and it was 7mm by 7mm. They snapped right in very good. I found the right size at Clips and Fasteners website with their search feature, and then bought them at Amazon back in 2017.



https://www.clipsandfasteners.com/

 

Also...lots of these kind of parts are sold on ebay. I'd look there if you're bargain shopping.

 

yes! I bought a box set of them from ebay. Good to have around, but the set didn’t contain all the exact ones for my 4runner.

 

I don't really understand how to figure out which clips are the right ones. Is there a list of all the part numbers somewhere? For my front turn signal assemblies the inserts are probably also 7mm x 7mm, so I can get the same ones as snippits linked.

 

Go to Clips and Fasteners. Search the catalog for Toyota/Lexus parts. Notice some of the same Toyota/Lexus parts fit other makes such as Honda, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and etc..

Measure the metal cutout and screw diameter with digital calipers or tape measure. Then find one in the catalog that looks like your old one, and check that the specs are the same as the cutout and screw size that you measured with digital calipers. You can pop out the old part, and take measurements too.

https://www.clipsandfasteners.com/category-s/776.htm

 

What do you mean by inserts? A picture paints a thousand words.
I fill holes on my fiberglss cap with epoxy and re-drill. If hole's too big, epoxy fill and tip of bamboo chopsticks.
I replace clips and hidden fasteners with nylon expansion nuts.