Question on tightening or replacing..........

[Matt M PA]

If I understand your question correctly, it seems that you are asking about the part that retains the outside lip of the quarter panel to the inner panel. These are pop rivets..it will need to be drilled out and replaced.

 

[Matt M PA]

Fender stays on...CAREFULLY drill out the center, then install a new one. Your Dodge dealer can order the rivets. Again, be careful to avoid damaging the paint around the rivet. Also be vigilant when installing the new one, as when it "pops", it may cause the rivet tool to skid, move, bounce, etc...

 

[Matt M PA]

Basically, a pop rivet works like a hollow wall anchor....as it is installed, it mushrooms out on the backside to retain whatever it is you are retaining. The rivet has the head (which you can see) and a nail that goes through with a bulge on the end that spreads out the back side of the rivet. Whne new, the rivet will have the pointy end of the nail sticking about an inch past the head. You place this nail end into the rivet gun, and it draws the nail through the rivet. Then, the nail part breaks off, and you are done. The rivet gun itself kinda looks like a staple gun.

 

[GTS Dean]

NAPA has all kinds of body fasteners in stock or at most, one day away. I have bought these exact rivets from them, but can't remember the cost.

Sometimes, you need to use a hammer and small drift punch to drive the pin back just a little. If you don't, the drill bit will spin forever on the hard steel pin without cutting the aluminum mushroomed head. Use extra care when the head is nearly off, because it can hang on the drill bit and walk across the fiberglass.