It's very easy to do - a 2 on a scale from 1 to 10. Total cost $0.99 and is enough to do 4 gloveboxes (or $0.25 to fix my glovebox; however you want to look at it).
Tools/Materials needed:
- Phillips screwdriver
- Dremel
- Cutting and sanding bits for Dremel
- 1/16" drill bit, 3/32" drill bit, 1/8" drill bit
- #6-32 tap
- #6-32x3/8" socket head screw (available at any hardware store)
Step 1. Remove the glovebox door piece that houses the latch mechanism. On the door you just removed, take a look at how all the springs and pins and arms and stuff are laid out and oriented. You'll need to remember when you go to put it back together.
Step 2. Unscrew the brown triangular shaped latch piece in the center.
Step 3. Carefully pry off the small c-clip holding the latch pin to the frame.
Step 4. Remove the latch pin. The small post is what breaks. Mine was not broken, but I was not going to wait around until it did.
Step 5. Using your Dremel, remove the small post using a cutoff disc or wire snips or something. I then sanded what was left of the post down as low as I could go. Don't sand too much because you have to know exactly where the post was to center your drill bit.
Step 6. Drill a small pilot hole in the center of where the small post was using the 1/16" drill bit. Then enlarge the hole using the 3/32" drill bit. Finally, enlarge the hole using the 1/8" drill bit.
Step 7. Carefully tap the hole using the #6-32 tap.
Step 8. Sand a small curved relief into the large head of the latch pin to allow the socket cap screw's head to clear. Then insert the socket cap screw and tighten. A dab of loctite isn't necessary but won't hurt for the extra piece of mind:
Here is what the completed latch pin should look like:
Step 9. Install the completed latch pin back into the frame, replace the c-clip, and finish putting everything back together the way it was taken apart.
Edited by Slater, 04 March 2006 - 09:47 PM.
