Stainless screws for rear number plate lights

Joga

Joga

A2OC Donor
Most have encountered rusty screws for the lens of the rear number plate lights (or will!).
Here is a my replacement light.
_20201109_173718.JPG


These are the dimension of the original screws.
_20201109_173642.JPG


_20201109_173626.JPG

Approx 3.75mm x 14mm.
I found that this stainless screw was a good replacement:
_20201109_172834.JPG


_20201109_174539.JPG
 
I guess what country you stay in limits the choice of suppliers. We are still quite fortunate in the UK in that we have several large store retailers and one line ones also. The real trick is getting a good grade stainless steel screw of roughly the correct dimensions. The other tip is to get some small rubber o rings and place one under the head of the new screw, a little dab of silicon grease before fitting the screw. This will both lubricate the thread and greatly slow down water ingress.
I sourced my screws from Halfords.
 
Still quite difficult to find part threaded screws to match the original.

Have to smile, 7zap has 4.2mm X 13 mm panel screw, why 4.2mm??? - imperial No 8.

Andy
 
Perhaps also put some silicone washers under the screws too, to protect the polycarbonate lenses from cracking even more? I believe there's a thread from a long long time ago about it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mtl
Andrew said:
Still quite difficult to find part threaded screws to match the original.

Have to smile, 7zap has 4.2mm X 13 mm panel screw, why 4.2mm??? - imperial No 8.

Andy
Click to expand...
Picking from the other thread earlier today:
www.ebay.co.uk

No.6 (3.5mmØ) POZI COUNTERSUNK WOOD SCREWS A2 STAINLESS STEEL PARTLY THREADED | eBay

No.6 Pozi Countersunk Wood Screws. No.6 (3.5mm) pozi countersunk wood screws. All screws are partly threaded. A2 Stainless Steel. Manufactured from A2 stainless steel for improved corrosion resistance.
www.ebay.co.uk

And they're "A2" Stainless Steel - you couldn't make it up ?? :)
 
Here in Greece the place to go for stainless steel screws and fittings is any yacht chandler. It's probably the same in the UK
 
Just a heads up on these screws (along with the other threads on this), even though 7Zap may state 4.2mm, these are 3.5mm screws.
I purchased 4.2mm No. 8 screws, and they are slightly too large. The heads sit slightly proud, and there were unnerving stretch sounds when tightened up. They will work, but 3.5mm No 6 are much better suited.

I was just in time (23 years late) to get them out, with only one of the originals proving difficult.

Nice white LED lights in time for winter!
 
Oskar said:
Just a heads up on these screws (along with the other threads on this), even though 7Zap may state 4.2mm, these are 3.5mm screws.
I purchased 4.2mm No. 8 screws, and they are slightly too large. The heads sit slightly proud, and there were unnerving stretch sounds when tightened up. They will work, but 3.5mm No 6 are much better suited.

I was just in time (23 years late) to get them out, with only one of the originals proving difficult.

Nice white LED lights in time for winter!
Click to expand...
Where did you get them in the end?
 
Plenty of places on eBay. Just search stainless screws and filter through them. Many have the sizes is metric and imperial so you can be sure of the right size. No. 6.
 
Well worth doing this, if you haven't already: As I mentioned recently elsewhere, thanks to @Dave M using stainless screws on Audrey decade or so ago, the number plate lamps came out and the bulbs were changed for nice white LEDs in under 10 mins. Couldn't be simpler.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top