Dust Shield P.I.F.s

[Jerry Clark]

Good morning everyone:

Laugh if you will but I'll ask this anyway. Every time I attempt this simple job it gives me headaches. I am replacing my A frame dust shields,again, ( 69 AC, BB not much room ), the push in fasteners are difficult to remove, can't get under the head with anything to pry them out, have seen the holes broken through the inner fenders from people prying in the wrong place or with the wrong instrument. Cutting the "pins" off from inside the wheel well is an option but I keep feeling I'm missing either a method or tool that would make this as simple as it should be, ( it should be, right ? )

As always, any suggestions will be appreciated.

Jerry

[Paul Y.]

Re: Dust Shield P.I.F.s

Jerry,

I grabbed mine with a good sized side cutters, or dyke pliers if you will. Cutting the bottom off on some of the tough ones seems to help as well.

Luck to ya,

Paul

[Roberto L.]

Re: Dust Shield P.I.F.s

I use in my 70 an scissor Jerry, slide blades below top of fastener (between fast. head and rubber) but without cutting it and pry out. Protect pointed end of scissor to prevent contact scratching. It worked for me like a champ (is this correct Terry M? :) ). Seriously it worked. All best,

Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMC

[Jack H.]

Re: Dust Shield P.I.F.s

There is a tool that can help a BUNCH but won't guarantee sucessful, unscathed, removal. Looks like a screwdrive with wide slot head tip slightly curved. It's used for prying the plastic PIF's used on modern door panels free. On my BB Surburban, the easy (read that 'cowards') way to change plugs without a lift is to go through the front wheel wells to access certain hard to reach plugs. Of course, the inner fender dust/splash shields are in the way, so using the removal tool helps a bunch!

BUT, tool is intended for PIF popping on modern door panels and those PIF's differ in construction (intended to be re-used a few times) from inner fender dust/splash shield jobbies. The latter were intended for one-shot use and with an older car you can expect the PIF material to have hardened with heat and age to be more brittle than when new. Roberto's method mirrors what I'm saying and you don't risk a slip/opps condition that could damage....