You need to take out the broken cooler clip from the motherboard.
You need to take out the broken cooler clip from the motherboard.
I was assisting a friend in assembling his PC with a team and accidentally misused the screws while installing his cooler. He was using an AG400 cooler and fitting it onto an ASUS B760M-PLUS WiFi. The person providing the AMD spacers and screws didn’t realize I was applying too much pressure during tightening. The bracket’s threads have expanded in the slot, making me concerned about damaging the board if I try to remove it. I’m seeking advice on how to safely take the bracket out without causing harm. The board appears intact, but I’m hoping a new cooler or bracket would be the best solution.
Using a screwdriver or chisel to shape it poses significant danger. If the material is too dense, drilling might be the safer option. You may drill until it reaches a manageable thickness, or it could come out completely. There are chances for mistakes here since close marks aren't usually present (though that doesn't mean you should panic). You'll need to secure the opposite side while drilling to prevent the piece from twisting.
Use a flat bladed screwdriver that fits the threaded hole and attempt to take it out by loosening it. Keep in mind this isn't a guaranteed solution; sometimes you might need to drill through it. Pay attention to the photo—there seems to be a square cutaway at the top. If present, you could try gently pushing it off with a screwdriver to remove it. Just remember, this approach isn't always successful and the best outcome is usually drilling it out completely.
From the photos, it looks like the metal ring is broken into two sections. Using small long-nose pliers might help you carefully push the smaller piece back toward the hole center. If nothing moves, drilling could be a better option.
My friend is quite hesitant about drilling near his board, and my shaky hands aren’t exactly ideal for the task either. I’d like to confirm whether the metal rings belong to another section that connects to the cooler—this might affect the process. I plan to try the needle-nose plyers approach and will share updates soon, thank you all for your help!
We successfully completed it without harming the board! Appreciate the feedback; the board held up better than expected.