Doing my TE conversion and running into problems removing the fender liners. There are these plastic retainers pictured bellow, that are PITA! I'm stuck. Anyone with experience removing them?

Yank them out with pliers. Can't reuse them most of the time.

Probably thee biggest PITA for doing the TE conversion is the front fender liners. Those fasteners fit in square holes have a pinch release on the back side. The problem is getting to the backside with all the stuff on the inside fender wells . Start at the front working thru where the headlight was and work backward is what I did,one at a time. Those poly liners are real tough and you can bend it out of the way as you work back!

A square part 3/8" socket with a little tape on it will fit over the back side and compress the pinch locks,then just use something to pull it out.Take one of the easy ones out and you'll see what I mean.

If I had to do it over again ,the ones that are real hard to get to I would have just used a 5/16" drill bit and drilled them out and replaced with new.

Thanks Harper. I'm contemplating on breaking them off or saving them, they are $1.75 each and they say I need 27 of them..yikes..I've spent almost $100 on retainers alone for the fenders as I broke most of them..lol

Check your local NAPA shop for the retaining pins. They have had everyone I've needed for every vehicle I've worked on and at a better price than a dealer or online.

Grant thanks for the input, I will check there since the dealer is out of stock and won't have any until Wednesday. They are a big PITA so I gave up and broke every single one of them. Patience out the window..lol

does anyone know the sizr of these retainers?? some as+hole kicked my rear husky guards off and the pins and one mud liner are all gone!! ugh..looking to order some online

I don't know if this is the right clip
Toyota Fender Moulding Clip 17Mm Hd Dia 17Mm Stm - 10 Per Box
but this site has helped me locate replacements a time or twenty. My local Ford dealer put me onto them years ago.
Hope this helps, and for the record, I have absolutely no affiliation with them.

MOJoWales

Sorry do not know the size, but, do you still have the rear Husky's? Or did they steal those also? IF not, I have a pair if your interested. Be Safe