What should I do? I broke 2 flat-head screwdrivers trying to do it that way, and I stripped the damn thing after using like a PERFECT philips, its just so damn tight...

Should I drill through the middle of it ??? I don't care if the end of the screw is stuck in the bose unit, I'm replacing it so it doesn't really concern me, any ideas?

Thanks!
Josh

 

Now you need a screw extractor. Available at Home Depot.

Don't try to take these screws out with the radio in the car. Please the radio and bracket on a bench, screws up. With a new Philips screw driver, tap the driver head with a hammer as you twist.

 

yea i had trouble with those same screws, i hear that if u actually turn it the other way, tightening it, then try to unscrew that may work. Perhapps hitting the phillips with a hammer, what i used was a tool that uses the downward force from a hammer struck on the top of the screwdriver to actually twist the screw just a tiny bit in order to break it lose, hard to explain, its probly a screw extractor or whatever the last post said.

 

+1 to the tightening first thing.

also, if you still want to take out the remaining screws, try a power tool and a snug fitting screw bit, push down with all your weight and zoom zoom away.

 

i wouldn't suggest that yet. If you cannot manually take out a screw, a power tool might strip it. Obviously the reason why i say that is if you put all ur force down on the bose, n someone else turns the unit, it should unscrew, otherwise the power tool is basically useless, If you're doing a one man job, then yes, the power tool is helpful. if you don't care about the screw being stuck in teh bose, then you can either get a screw extrator, or use something just to cut off the end of the screw n then just have the bose slide off. Its the metal grinding things, but the one person pushing down n the other guy turning should work for the other scews.

P.S. i hope that you sprayed it with wd-40 or pb blaster first....

 

I had the same problem. The screws are pretty soft and strip quite easy. The best thing to do is just as you mentioned. Drill through the center of it. If you hit it dead center it shouldn't even touch the Bose deck (good for resale value on ebay). Have fun.

 

It's odd my bro's car had that problem, mine were cake to remove. Oh well gotta love the blose.

 

+1 for the tool called an impact driver. The other guy called it a screw extractor. Definitely remove the whole bracket, then work with the screw on the bench.

You'll find yourself using this impact driver tool again and again and saving time - so don't be scared off by the fact it's a $20 tool set.

 

very good suggetion, but you should buy more than one. Seems like the lil screwdriver that you put on at the end always just breaks n can't be used nemore. Then i just go and return it n be like, it broke.....-= )

 

jeez i feel u pain bro. i almost stripped 2 of mine doing a HU swap in the drivers seat. not the best place but even after almost a decade, those things really did not want to come out

 

I would drill it out. It's not as big of a problem as when i stripped the bolt holding the water pump. That was one of the worst days of my car repair career.

 

I used a Power Drill to get those out. Worked perfect. Hand Screwdriver wouldnt have worked with leaning it inside my car. Cant get enough force onto the screw. Those mothers are TIGHT !!!

-matt

 

I drilled mine right out, took 5 seconds each

 

Torch and PB blaster stuff..and she'll almost fall out

 

have a friend hold the trim and the radio, place a GOOD philips screwdriver on it, put all your body weight on the screwdriver and turn. Sounds stupid, but I got all of mine out no problem. If the screwdriver can't go anywhere, then it will bite properly.

 

A friend of mine torqued down some rocker arm bolts to somewhere around 89 ft/lbs (vs in/lbs). Got the first 3 torqued down to that spec, then the fourth one just snapped right in half only about halfway through. He had to helicoil out that hole with only the intake manifolds and valve cover off, engine still in the car.

That was fun.

 

I drilled it out, worked nicely, thanks guys

 

i must have removed dozens of bose systems and i seem to have the same problem too. those screws are a biatch to get out. i just drill them out very carefully. its usually one or two that are stubborn.

 

Those screws are Fort Knox. My friend and I placed towels on the floor, put the whole thing on its side (radio, climate control, and storage drawer), put on rubber high-grip gloves and put all our weight over the screws and turned. Not fun.

 

Power Drill, Power Drill, Power Drill....

-matt