Broken Antenna Stud Removal Solution

First off, I believe lazy people make the best inventors.

And I am most definitely LAZY!! So...

As I have read on a few posts here, I too got stupid and forgot to remove my OEM radio antenna before driving through the car wash. Yep... broke it off about 1/4" below the mount. Searched here for a fix and found a few posts illustrating how to access the mount from under the fender by removing a LOT of parts. Average repair time: 2 hrs.

Decided there had to be an easier way. The following took 15 min. and I didn't have to pull ANY parts.

TOOLS REQUIRED: 3/32 (.09375) drill bit
1/16 (.0625) drill bit
Cordless drill with a small enough chuck to hold the above bits
Canned Air (as used to clean computer components)
Super Glue

PROCEDURE: Using the 3/32 bit, carefully drill a 1/4" deep hole in the center of the stud.
Use canned air to blow debris out of the hole.
Place a TINY drop of Super Glue on the tip of the 1/16 bit.

CAUTION: Using too much glue could result in it getting on the threads... GAME OVER

Insert the glued end of the 1/16 bit into the stud & wait for it to cure.
If the stud is fairly loose (mine was) you should be able to simply twist it out by hand. If not, use pliers.

Now I just have to find a new, reasonably priced, OEM stick somewhere.

Hope this helps. Let me know!

 

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Thank you kindly gentlemen!

 

I’m trying this as I type. Thanks for the idea.

 

Thank you! Been trying to figure this out, I broke mine off.

 

Hero of the day!

 

Good luck Gents! Let me know how you fare.

 

Great invention. Thanks

 

I tried your method above but failed. User error. I would recommend more patience and less beer. I just bought the $40 part and replaced it.

 

Do the OEM antenna's just pull off if you need to remove? Sorry never tried, typically go to touchless car washes.

 

Unscrew. Mine is just hand tight. You may need to use a wrench just to break it loose.

 

Surely thee jests? My work always looks a lot better after a few suds!

 

Thanks for the quick tip!

 

In keeping with the theme lazy is better...I just watched a genius at work. A local car wash broke off my antenna. Of course half of the stud was still threaded in the hole. I went back to the car wash manager who used two ‘dental picks’. I’ve seen similar picks at Princess Auto (similar to Harbor Freight). In less than two minutes he removed the broken stud out by simply turning the broken stud. He explained that Tundras are the easiest to do as they are not threaded in as tight as other manufacturers. Easy breezy.

 

I just went through a broken antenna stud removal. I just bought my truck used, 2017 5.7L Tundra, and the antenna was already broken off.
The easiest way to remove the stud is to do what most machinists / mechanics would do.
I used a sharp spring load punch to center punch the broken surface of the stud. I then used a 7/64" Left Hand drill bit to back the stud out. See the attached picture. This took only about 5 minutes to do. If the stud would have been stuck, I could have drilled a deeper hole in the stud and then used an easy out to back out the stud. Amazon has these kinds of bits and easy outs for very little money.

 

I've got a '13 and of course broke off in carwash. Well I tried backing out with no luck and then sat on it for several months. So bought the 50 part, wiring from radio to the post under fender. Was going to do myself until looked at the specifics, remove dash, move air bag, etc. Nope. Took to dealership yesterday for some other maintenance and was going to have them do it. Well, they said oh we just drill them out, pretty straighforward but then came back and was like don't think we will be able to so the only option is to change the piece. $$$.

Has anyone tried splicing? I cannot understand why the connection isn't right by the post under the fender well, why sell this continuous wiring that requires all the way back to the radio.

 

I did some similar research and ended up paying a Toyota shop 120 for labor after deciding I didn’t want to do it myself. After seeing a new one, I wish I would have drilled more. Keep drilling and don’t worry about ruining it if are going to replace it anyway. Good luck

 

Yeah, gonna try and drill again this weekend. The dealership I tool it to this week wanted $213 plus tax. I can catch enough stations for the time being and keep that in my wallet. Gonna go to another dealer and see what they say.

 

Pull up IHeart Radio and stream through the radio. When my antenna broke, that's what I did for almost 6 months, until I finally ordered a new mast assembly and replaced it. It was a pita though.

 

Fellow Tundranites, the secret to drilling the stud out is to use a 7/64" LEFT HAND drill bit, not a standard right hand drill bit. See my picture four posts above this one. The stud is only screwed in hand tight, so the LEFT HAND drill will back the stud right out. A LEFT HAND easy out will definitely remove the stud if it is screwed in tightly or stuck.

I saw one post where a car wash owner used two dental picks to rotate the broken stud out of the antenna female threaded end. Sounds like the car wash owner had some experience in doing this.

 

Thanks for the info. Will definitely try this weekend!

 

I dont even use it, took it off within 5 minutes of first bringing the truck home. I only use my phone or Sirius Radio to listen to music, so it was worthless and ugly. Whip antenna in 2019.....

 

LiftMeUp, any success in backing the stud out?

 

That was the plan for this weekend but things came up and wasn't home to give it a try but is definitely on the agenda for this weekend. Really hope I can.

 

I just did mine, and took me 5 min. Luckily it was pretty loose inside. Drilled a little hole, and then changed the direction of the bit to the left hand side, slightly angled the bit so it has better grip while unscrewing the piece out.

 

drill and an easy out, comes right out.

 

We shall see. The dealership was going to charge $75 and didn't try cause they didn't think they could get it out and didn't want to charge the 75 for nothing.

 

Lots of good posts here. I would definitely steer clear of using super glue, as the solution I used was super cheap and low risk. I used a 1/16" drill bit and drilled a small hole in the center. Then I blew the metal shards out of the hole with an air compressor... you can likely blow them out without a compressor or use a shop vac or vacuum cleaner. Then I used a small extractor (EX 1) made by Irwin. They had a set for $17 at my local hardware store and they'll come in handy at some point for other shop work. Here is a link (

$17 IRWIN Screw Extractor, Spiral Flute, 6-Piece (53545)

IRWIN HANSON FLUTE EXTRACTOR SET). I then placed the extractor in my 1/16" hole, reversed the direction of the drill and SLOWLY extracted the broken piece. All in all it took less than 5 minutes and I now have some extractors to remove stripped screws, bolts, or threaded pipes of various sizes. No doubt a reverse thread screw will work as well. Also, try just using small flat head or Phillips head screw driver before buying the flute extractors if you are on a budget. I bet it will work if you have a tool small enough to fit inside of the 1/16" hole.

 

I'm going to have to give it another go one day. Wasn't sure I could get enough pressure on the bit to make a hole.

 

So mine broke off. Tried to drill it without a tap or left hand bit, still unable to get any traction moving it and I'm pretty sure I've fubar'ed it.

Am I reading correctly that it runs all the way back to the head unit in one run?