Push rivets are cheap. The plastic panel they hold is not. The number one mistake riders make is prying a rivet out sideways with a flathead screwdriver — which cracks the clip seat and turns a $0.06 fix into a $150 fender.
The right way
- Pop the center pin first. On expansion rivets, the head has a center section that sits proud or flush. Slip a trim tool or small flathead under the center pin only and lift it 5–6mm. This releases the legs' tension.
- Then lift the whole head. With the pin raised, the body pulls out with light finger pressure or a gentle pry under the full head.
- Stubborn rivet? Mud-packed rivets seize. Work a drop of penetrating oil around the head, wait a minute, and try again. If the head snaps off, push the remainder through into the panel cavity rather than gouging the hole wider.
What not to do
- Don't pry against the panel edge — use a wide trim tool or a scrap of wood as a fulcrum.
- Don't drill unless the rivet is truly destroyed; a drill walks and ovals the hole.
- Don't reuse the old rivet. The legs deform on removal and it will back out on the trail.
Once the old clip is out, a fresh 8mm push rivet presses in by hand — line up the panel holes, insert the body, and push the center pin flush.