Screw & Bolt Clips

Screw clips, bolt clips and U-nuts create a threaded mounting point on sheet metal, plastic or a trim panel that cannot be tapped directly. They sit over a hole or panel edge, hold the screw or bolt and spread the clamping load across the mounting area.

These retainers are used for interior trim, body panels, splash shields, brackets, covers and underbody parts. The correct clip must match the screw thread, panel thickness and load direction, not just the visible shape.

A U-nut slides over the edge of a panel and provides a threaded hole for a screw or bolt. A J-nut performs a similar job on a deeper or offset mounting point. Spring-steel screw clips grip a panel edge, while plastic screw grommets expand into a hole when the screw is driven.

Threaded inserts, body nuts and screw-and-spring clips vary by thread pitch, reach, hole shape and material. A plastic retainer can be correct for a light trim panel but may not be suitable where a metal U-nut carries a higher load or sees heat.

Consider the load direction as well as the size. A retainer that only locates a trim panel may pull off when used on a bracket or underbody shield that sees vibration, airflow and road debris.

Measure the screw or bolt diameter and thread pitch, then check the panel thickness the clip must span. The clip reach, thread length and shoulder height determine whether it will clamp the panel without pulling through or leaving it loose.

Confirm whether the original mounting point is square, round, rectangular or an open slot. Compare the material and finish as well: a corroded or softened retainer can fail even when the thread size is correct.

Metric and imperial threads are not interchangeable, and similar-looking coarse and fine pitches need different fasteners. Match the original screw to the clip before tightening anything by force.

A screw that spins may be using the wrong thread, a stripped U-nut or a clip that no longer grips the panel edge. A loose panel can also mean the clip has pulled off the sheet metal, the screw is too long or the panel thickness is outside the clip's range.

Remove the screw, inspect the retainer and clean the mounting point before fitting a replacement. If the panel hole is torn or deformed, adding a larger screw can make the damage worse.

Our range includes screw clips, spring clips, body nuts and U-nuts for Honda, Ford, GM, Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Volvo, Subaru, Jaguar and Land Rover applications.

Many retainers are used in more than one location on the same vehicle. Check the part number and mounting position rather than assuming that a clip from the door trim is also correct for a splash shield or bracket.

Screw clips are easy to lose when a panel is removed, so replacing every damaged or corroded retainer during the repair is more reliable than reusing one that no longer grips. Listings state the pack quantity where more than one piece is included.

MotiveCrate supplies screw clips, bolt clips and U-nuts to repair shops, body shops and resellers. Mixed cartons, neutral packaging and private-label packing are available for volume orders.