850: Split rivits, fender liners, mud flaps and rocker panels

[JimBee]

From a side discussion on bumper brackets, bolts, topic, the question arose about the best rivets to use to refasten a fender liner. I have three that need to be reinstalled on two 855's, on the short list for spring.

I've noticed these at Harbor Freight:

https://www.harborfreight.com/90-piece- ... 67611.html

Any thoughts or experience with them?

Tangent: I also have a broken rocker cover where the mud flap attaches. I have a replacement (sourced at the JY) and on the other wagon I removed the rocker to clean up and treat some rusty metal underneath. Easy to remove, not so easy to reinstall without risking breakage of the topside alignment pins. I think the rear door needs to be unhinged and lifted slightly for smooth replacement. Another spring task.

But on that subject, NAPA has an impressive collection of plastic fasteners, including the push-pin type that are used on the bottom rocker flange just to hold it in place. They also stock the split shank pop rivet as per the other discussion.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/search?q= ... fied=false

The original rivets on the bottom rocker flange on the 850 are the plastic push-pin type. I found the right replacement for those at the local NAPA. They also stock a similar one that uses a self-threading screw to spread the rivet shank, so you can get some stronger holding force for use on the mud flap. I'll probably use those.

[erikv11]

As far as I can tell (I tried one), plastic split rivets won't work, you need to use aluminum ones.

I am replacing both rocker panels on my 95, I bought these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H8 ... svolvo3-20
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BH ... svolvo3-20

I actually haven't tried the push rivets yet. I had enough factory fasteners to do one side, ordered the Rexka parts for the other side. Hope to do that one tomorrow, with the Rexka pieces.

[Chuck W]

I used THESE on our cars. Plastic-coated AL.

[erikv11]

Oh and the split rivets I linked to are 100% aluminum, so no plastic coating like the factory ones.

[xHeart]

I used THESE on our cars. Plastic-coated AL.

+1

[Chuck W]

.
I am replacing both rocker panels on my 95, I bought these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BH ... svolvo3-20

I actually haven't tried the push rivets yet. I had enough factory fasteners to do one side, ordered the Rexka parts for the other side. Hope to do that one tomorrow, with the Rexka pieces.

Thanks for that link. I need to pick up a few. Need to replace a rocker on my T5. Would like to have a few extras on hand.

[JimBee]

The Rexka push pin fasteners look like, and a billed to be, the real thing. If they're the right size for the hole in the sheet metal, that's probably the way to go.

erik. Please let us know what, if anything, had to be manipulated to install the replacement rocker covers—IOW how you installed them without breaking any topside alignment pins.

[erikv11]

I finished the rocker panel install this afternoon. The black plastic Rexka push fasteners worked great, seem an exact match to the factory ones.

Install was straightforward, the topside alignment pins didn't suffer at all. Just slide the panel up over the body panel, align the pins then drop them into the holes. Snap the pins, attach the split rivets up front, then push in the black plastic rivets underneath.

Removing the old rocker panels was hard on the topside pins though, several broke on removal. From the two cars together I ended up one pin short for one side, and had a full set for the other side.

[Cookeh]

M4 aluminium rivnuts and button head bolts... Never worry about finding suitable rivets again, or paying a fortune for them everytime.

[erikv11]

I've tried straight up aluminum rivets, they don't work for a few of the positions in the mudflap, you need a split rivet due to the size of the back hole.

If you mean put an insert in from the back and screw into it, even if you figured out one that had large enough diameter again this doesn't work because there is no access from the back. The split rivet reaches through the mudflap and wheel liner and grabs the inside of the rocker panel.