Glove box 101

[magus_blackomen]

I got tired of looking at my dangling glove box but didn't want to shell out for a new one. I bought some metal hinges from the hardware store. I used a screw driver and a pair of pliers to seperate the hinges.



Pulled the hollow pin out of the glovebox hinge and used the solid steel pin supplied with the metal hinge since it fit the metal hinge better. Wrapped the metal hinge around the pin and it looked like this.



Then drilled pilot holes in the glovebox door and used the screws that came with the metal hinges and fastened it all together.



And the finished product.



Not bad for $2.49+tax in comparison to a new glove box.

[sijoko]

Looks good, bro.

My only concern is with the screws that came with the hinges. They are wood screws.

Some sheet metal screws might do a better job of keeping things together for a long time, especially if you put a dab of glue on them before install.

Otherwise, this is an excellent fix for an expensive problem. Congrats!

[Raxephon]

Nice work.

Looks like good material for the articles section.

[maxnix]

Interesting. How does it look when it is open?

[Q451990]

BRILLIANT! Someone really needs to add this to the articles.

Heath

[DrewQ45]

Excellent work! Definately article material.

Some things should have been made of metal in the first place. (like the chain guides)

...Drew..

[magus_blackomen]

And this is what it looks like when it's open.



Sheet metal screws and some glue does sound a little better than the woods screws I used. Have to go back and try that if this gives me issues.

[Raxephon]

Just tried it out.

I had to cut out about 1/8th of an inch of material in the center of each bracket to clear the plastic on the oem hinge.

The placement and angle of the passenger-side hinge works fine.

(Bracket is placed so that the screw holes are on either side of screw #1 and the plate actually covers screw#1)

The driverside is a little hazy in your picture.

I tried mounting in the red and it didn't work. After going back, copying the image to MS Paint and doing some coloring, it looks as if you mounted it on the blue section.

The problem is , the angle of the surface in that section, (bluestrip), puts the hinge pivot point directly where the black & brown, (felt & leather), meet and not primarily in the brown where it needs to be.

How did you get around this problem?

I still have my driverside OEM hinge intact on 1 of my gloveboxes, so it wasn't a problem for me. But I'm sure others will run into what I did.


Modified by anlasak at 2:47 PM 4/20/2006

[magus_blackomen]

I just centered the hinges over where the old ones had torn out. I actually didn't have any of the plastic hinge left. I think that's a step that would have to be added, chiseling away of the old hinges.

Anyways, here's a slightly better pic. My camera was having trouble getting a clear shot in the dark, or maybe it's just the operator.


Modified by magus_blackomen at 6:57 PM 4/20/2006

[elwesso]

Magnus... It'd be really cool if you could re-write in an article like format... I can post it then in the INFINITI ARTICLES, and technically if that happens you can get a custom title...

[magus_blackomen]

After actually readying your entire replay, anlasak, here's some hopefully more helpful shots.

Angle whole shot.

Drivers side pic 1



Drivers side pic 2



Passengers side pic 1



Passenger side pic 2

[Raxephon]

Thanks.

Those pics are a whole lot better.

If you write it in article form be sure to put in that you have to dig all the old hinge on the glovebox side out before mounting the new hinges.

[elwesso]

Man this is looking great!!

[magus_blackomen]

Is your Glove Box hanging? Dangling? Living in the trunk? Do you not want to search for a new glove box hoping that it'll be the right color and that the hinges won't break on it, too? Why not manufacture some hinges of your own that are stronger than stock and much less costly than buying a new door?

Items needed, new hinge, hinge that screws into the car, flat head and phillips screw driver, pliers, sheet metal screws, maybe glue.



First, seperate metal hinges, I used a srew driver and a pair of pliers, keep the solid pin.

Secondly remove the plastic hinges from inside the cavern where your glove box should be. Remove the hollow pins. Insert solid pin in the plastic hinge and wrap the arms of the metal hinge around the solid pin, notice which direction the arms wrap around the pin in coordination with the plastic hinge. Pictured below.



Remove the remains of the old hinges , make it atleast semi smooth, doesn't need to be perfect, just not too bumpy. Next, align the metal hinges centered basically where the old hinges existed. Drill pilot holes so the plastic doesn't split. Use sheet metal screws to fasten the hinges down, make sure not to over tighten, it'd probably strip out the srew holes!



Drivers side hinge pic 1



Drivers side hinge pic 2



Passengers side pic 1



Passengers side pic 2



Now, try installing it in the car. This is when we want to make sure everything lines up smoothly before we finalize the installation. If it doesn't line up quite right double check everything was done properly and try tweaking it, but if it went smoothly, it should, Your done! Unless you want to pull it back out, remove the screws on the metal hinges and put a drop of glue on them to help them seat in there a little tighter.



There you go, new glove box hinges on the cheap. If made properly they should last longer than just shelling out the cash for a new glove box door with the plastic OEM hinges.

[elwesso]

Thanks magus... I'll post that immediately !