Panel clips.

[Kazyn]

So, I have a quick question.




Who the F*CK designed the clips that hold the back panel to the wall in nbs trucks? Also, is it possible for me to pay GM for his address and a picture so I can kick that motherf*cker in the nutsack?

I have dropped TWO of those damn clips into the wall and the only way to get back there are the tiny little access holes that you can't fit a god damn knuckle into. Now when I drive these little self-absorbed bastards rattle like your grandma's vibrator set on "oh f*ck yeah."

I'm about to dremel my back wall apart just to silence these f*cking things......does anyone have any ideas that aren't as drastic? Don't say "try a magnet" because they made the god damn things out of aluminum or something. Been there, threw that.

I thought about spraying some of that expanding foam insulation sh*t in there....I know that'd work but is that dangerous to me in any way?

Sorry about the anger in this thread. I'm pissed off.

P.S. - Go suck a big fat one GM, making me pay 5 f*cking dollars for each replacement clip is like stabbing a squirrel with a knife laced with acorn dust.

[Loose Nut]

A couple options for ya:

Get a telescoping magnet (hear me out!) and wrap the end of it with duct tape inside out (so it's sticky) - then use that to fish out the clips. Another option is the flexible claw grabbers. Since those don't work for crap on parallel grabs, you'd do the same thing with the duct tape. Plain old 12ga house wire might work too (just something kinda rigid to get the tape ball down in there).

Second approach is just confirming that you can use expanding foam with no real dangers. I used to use the stuff to fill cavities in competition stereo cars all the time (probably a dozen of my installs used it - including 3 of my personal cars). But, the problem with the regular "great stuff" is that it will expand harder than sheet metal can withstand if you put too much in a cavity (only time that happened to me was on my wrangler's tailgate and fortunately the tire obstructed it - sucker was SOLID afterwards though ). The solution is to use their product intended for window and door jambs. That stuff doesn't expand with any force, so it won't bloat your panels if you get too much in there.

[1LOW4X4]

Back when I had the red truck, I had a rather large system in it, and those little clips would fall out and rattle like no tomorrow. Finally got pissed enough, took a saw-zall and cut a hole big enough for my hand. Then stuck me a telescoping magnet down in there.

[Kazyn]

Well I think I'm just going to fill the bottom of that sumbitch with that foam. I don't know of any other way to get these things out, I've tried everything. I really don't want to cut into my truck