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Should I be worried about these Body Panel screws?

DaniBoy

Member
The manual states that if there is “any distortion” around the screws that the body panel is too tight. Every one of my screws has a dimple/depression around it. If you only “tighten” the screws until they just touch the panel, then they aren’t tight enough and they’ll vibrate loose. These panels seem pretty flexible to me. Should I be worried?
 
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If the screws are too tight they will eventually crack/break the plastic around the screw holes. Buy some plastic or rubber washers to put on the screws before installing them and then just snug will be fine. The washers don't need to be much larger than the screw heads. Most of the screws on my 2015 RT screw into a clip of some type. If mine get loose enough for the screws to vibrate out I will change the clips. I would much rather lose a screw that can be replaced for pennies versus damaging a panel that will cost hundreds of dollars even if you can find one.
 
The manual states that if there is “any distortion” around the screws that the body panel is too tight. Every one of my screws has a dimple/depression around it. If you only “tighten” the screws until they just touch the panel, then they aren’t tight enough and they’ll vibrate loose. These panels seem pretty flexible to me. Should I be worried?

What screws? What body panels? They are not all the same.
 
Keep your body panel screws well marked so they go back in the same panel and same location. I started out using a paper towel and a magic marker to keep track of what goes where. When you reassemble the panels use about the 3 fingered torque to seat the screws. Keep an eye on them as you use your spyder and you'll get the hang of how tight the screws should be. Caution, don't over tighten them.
 
What with the thread locker all bolts/screws have, I doubt they’ll come loose easily. A bit better than snug is all they need.
 
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