How to: Boxster 986 - Repair broken centre console glove box hinge

[danci1973]

It seems that the plastic hinge on the centre console glove box lid is a weak point. Here's how I fixed it:

Start off by taking the lid apart - remove all of torx screws from the bottom plastic part and it should separate from the top leathery part. Now push the shaft of original plastic hinge out and remove the plastic leftovers of the broken hinge. Hold on to the shaft as you shall re-use it.

Then take the plastic part to a hardware shop and find a metal hinge that is 'a near fit' - it should be just wide enough to fit into the recess in the plastic and one half of it should have the knuckles arranged so that it (nearly) fits the plastic. I was lucky to find one that was almost right:

To separate the two parts I had to drill through the punch mark, after that the shaft slid out easily and the two leafs were separated - one will be discarded while the one, that (almost) fits, will have to be modified (how much depends on how close it is already).

In my case, I had to shorted it about 10mm (didn't really measure, I just went with trial & error) and grind a bit of the knuckles:

What you want to achieve is that it fits nicely in the recess in the plastic part in it's 'closed' position:

When you're done with cutting and grinding, you can paint it black to make it less obvious. After the paint cures, you can put it all together - align the hinge leaf, insert the shaft and reassemble the two halves of the lid:

To mount the repaired lid in the vehicle, I used a bit of two-sided sticky tape on the metal hinge. I aligned and closed the lid and made sure, that the tape stuck to the plastic base - then I carefully opened the lid, making sure not to move the hinge. I then marked out both holes with chalk, removed the lid and drilled two small holes (size depends on the screws or rivets - I decided to go with screws).

And the end result:

[ndjfb00]

Nice job, cheap fix too, thanks for the post

[Guvs]

Very good instructions and photos as well, thank you.

Guvs.

[T911UK]

Porsche do actually do a repair kit for these;

Probably slightly more money than your solution though!

[Andy Mac]

Great cheap fix.

I bought the Porsche kit a while back, fitted it around page two or three of my old running report http://www.BoXa.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=62446&page=1

Worked very well - But the kit was around £20-25 then.

[Skullbiker]

great fix.  Thanx

[el 3.2S]

On ‎10‎/‎30‎/‎2015 at 3:16 PM, T911UK said:

Porsche do actually do a repair kit for these;

Probably slightly more money than your solution though!

Do you have the part number for this?

[el 3.2S]

Found it, 99655296001.

[el 3.2S]

I have just purchased the repair kit. Found a really good video showing how to do the job. I believe the repair kit comes with no instructions, so this video will be quite useful.

[John2000]

I followed  that how to you found its very good I got an hinge from B@Q  I know thetes not one in Spain but plenty of ferreterías in Spain or  ebay mine is still going strong after a few years and cheap as chips.

If I can do it anyone can.

[el 3.2S]

1 hour ago, John2000 said:

I followed  that how to you found its very good I got an hinge from B@Q  I know thetes not one in Spain but plenty of ferreterías in Spain or  ebay mine is still going strong after a few years and cheap as chips.

If I can do it anyone can.

Yep, could probably find the individual parts after a bit of trailing around, and would be a lot cheaper. The ferreterias do have lots of obscure odds and ends. Took the lazy and easy option with the kit, horrible price for what it is though!