Need Some Antenna-Related Help

[XTrooper]

I'm not sure how it happened, but my antenna is no longer exactly perpendicular to the ground. It's angled out slightly away from the truck. Since I'm currently using a 4" stubby antenna, it doesn't show that much, but it's still driving me crazy.

Can someone tell me how I can straighten it out? If I have to loosen that chrome-plated nut with the three slots at the base of the antenna, is there a special tool I need to get or is there a trick to loosening it?

Thanks!

 

[Livinalittle]

Just bend it brother.
I've heard some guys on here say they keep a spare wrench in their truck so they can take off their antenna before running through a car wash. I haven't had issues with this though.

 

[XTrooper]

The stubby antenna is machined aluminum. It won't bend. Also, the base is screwed down tight, so it won't shift even a little bit. Believe me, I tried.

The problem is that base (the threaded part that the antenna is screwed onto) is what has shifted and now it won't budge. I need to loosen and move this base to get things right.

 

[NYCruiser]

That's the problem with the stubby antenna. It doesn't bend. I had one on for a while, but didn't like the reception. Problem is if something snags that antenna, it will either shift the base, or bend the fender because the antenna is tough.

I think you will need to get behind the fender to loosen and adjust the base.

 

[XTrooper]

That's the problem with the stubby antenna. It doesn't bend. I had one on for a while, but didn't like the reception. Problem is if something snags that antenna, it will either shift the base, or bend the fender because the antenna is tough.

I think you will need to get behind the fender to loosen and adjust the base.

Yeah, I "think" it may have happened at the car wash, but I'm not certain.

I agree that reception sucks with the stubby, but that's not a concern for me because I only listen to XM radio or mp3 tunes.

I may have to get behind the fender, as you say, which really isn't a big deal, but I'm thinking if I can just loosen that chrome bolt at the base of the antenna a little, I can use the antenna itself to straighten it up.

My big question is how to loosen that base with the three slots? Is there a specific tool I need to use or should I just give a flat-blade screwdriver a whack to break it loose?

 

[NYCruiser]

Im not sure, but I'd make sure you cover it with a rag so you don't scratch anything.

Maybe you need one of these:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d....oap?ck=Search_N0681_-1_-1&pt=N0681&ppt=C0063

 

[XTrooper]

Im not sure, but I'd make sure you cover it with a rag so you don't scratch anything.

Maybe you need one of these:
Steck Manufacturing 21600 - Antenna Wrench | O'Reilly Auto Parts

Yeah, that's the ticket! That antenna wrench looks like exactly what I need!

Thanks!

 

[Birddog]

If it bent at a car wash, why wouldn't it bend back? I've had antennas bend from the force of wind and then you go to a car wash, they take it off, and when they put it back on if they don't tighten it in the same place it was is now sticking out. That's what I figured happened to yours.

Sent from my Note 3 using Tapatalk Pro!

 

[XTrooper]

Ok, I just took a closer look at the antenna (it was about 10 degrees outside when I initially checked it) and I discovered what the real problem was.

The antenna itself is NOT bent. As those of you who own one know, these stubby antennas are made from machined aircraft aluminum and, short of putting one in a vise and taking a hammer to it, they don't bend. However, when I looked closely, I saw that the antenna's threaded bronze stud WAS bent! I straightend out the stud as best I could without messing up the threads and it's pretty darn straight again now. FIXED!

Thanks for all the help and suggestions, guys! Even though it's fixed, I'm still going to get one of the antenna bezel wrenches just in case I ever need it in the future.

 

[Cruizer]

You have any pictures of what your antenna currently looks like. I didn't need the tool by the way. Think I used a pair of bent needle nose pliers and hit two of the holes on that nut. Came off pretty easy. I didn't get the stubby, needed some reception. Got a black flexible 8" one.

 

[XTrooper]

Hi, Cruizer.

I don't, but I'll take a couple later today and post them.


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[Cruizer]

Hi, Cruizer.

I don't, but I'll take a couple later today and post them.

I'm curious if your base has turned a little. That would change the angle and would explain why it could be hard to get that nut off.

 

[XTrooper]

Don't think so, but I'll make sure I get a good shot of the base's bezel for you.


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[FancyStancy]

Sorry to high jack, but I feel like one of you could answer this for me. My antenna is fine, but the base where I screw my antenna into has some side to side play. Can this be tighted up from the backside of the fender?

 

[NYCruiser]

Sorry to high jack, but I feel like one of you could answer this for me. My antenna is fine, but the base where I screw my antenna into has some side to side play. Can this be tighted up from the backside of the fender?

I think you can tighten it from outside the fender with one of the antenna wrenches linked to earlier in the thread.

 

[FancyStancy]

I think you can tighten it from outside the fender with one of the antenna wrenches linked to earlier in the thread.

alright thanks

 

[Cruizer]

Sorry to high jack, but I feel like one of you could answer this for me. My antenna is fine, but the base where I screw my antenna into has some side to side play. Can this be tighted up from the backside of the fender?

Not familiar with 3rd Gen trucks, but on mine all the tightening is done from the round nut on the outside.

 

[XTrooper]

It's not quite right so I'm going to order a new one and keep this one as a spare AND I'm going to remove it before going through the car wash. I mistakenly thought the stubby would be immune from damage because it is so short, but I was wrong.

 

[Cruizer]

It did do a number. Almost looks like it's cross-threaded now. I can't tell it that's the antenna or the antenna mount that's jacked though.

 

[XTrooper]

It did do a number. Almost looks like it's cross-threaded now. I can't tell it that's the antenna or the antenna mount that's jacked though.

It's the antenna. I put the factory antenna back on the base and it looks fine.

It's also not cross-threaded, BUT the threaded stud that is epoxied inside the bottom of the antenna body was bent pretty badly. I straightened it out the best I could, but, of course, it will never be exactly right again.