I can't seem to get the old antenna mast grommet out to install the new antenna mast.

....|Back Story|.....
Got my antenna mast ripped out by some mysterious thug.... they pulled out the entire plastic toothed rod. But the metal grommet that holds it in place is still in the assembly. From the pictures I've seen and from looking at the replacement mast the grommet should just screw off....

I've taken the whole motor assembly out......But when i unscrew the grommet it jsut spins and spins without moving up or down... It's the metal circular part just below the mast of the antenna with 2 flat sides on either side to allow for a wrench ( i assume ). Pulling up on it doesn't work either.

That grommet is the only thing stopping me from installing the new mast. Please help...

Here's some Pics of the assembley with the gormmet still there, and part of the metal shaft of the origional mast still in place.

 

Btw my car is a 95' c280......
Doesn any one know of a good resource for the Hirschmann antena?

 

Gotta bump this....
Has anyone heard of a solution? short of buying a whole new motor assembly of course.

 

autohaus AZ