Trunk Hinge Bolt Snapped Off!, Major PIA! Options

[oakdalecurtis]

I was prepping my car for the next car show and was lowering the trunk slowly, then BANG! The closed trunk was now popping up about two inches high on the right side. I reopened it slowly and saw that the trunk hinge was no longer attached to the inner fender. The hinge bolt had sheared of cleanly, flush with the inner fender support bracket. I removed the trunk lid, released the torsion bar and disassembled the hinge mechanism. I'm pretty good mechanically, but I don't have
EasyOuts and have never removed a broken bolt. After a few phone calls to local mechanics, I found one that said he could remove the broken stud no problem. I ordered a new bolt from George at AA, and he recommended that I also buy a torsion bar tool. I am glad I took his advice! After the mechanic removed the broken bolt and we installed the hinge mechanism and the new bolt, it took the torsion tool, a crow bar, a ton of pressure, and both of us working together to put the torsion bar back over the hinge pin! Thanks George!

[rhodyguy]

Did you guys open the lid before fighting with the rod? With the lid up, use a prop stick, you can move the rod around with a deep 10mm? socket and long extension. Replace BOTH rollers and lube them up.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

well thankfully the trunk hinge pivot did not break! A lot easier to tap and clean the threads than weld in a new trunk hinge pivot. Antiseize on the shoulder of the bolt will prevent it from happening again

I was prepping my car for the next car show and was lowering the trunk slowly, then BANG! The closed trunk was now popping up about two inches high on the right side. I reopened it slowly and saw that the trunk hinge was no longer attached to the inner fender. The hinge bolt had sheared of cleanly, flush with the inner fender support bracket. I removed the trunk lid, released the torsion bar and disassembled the hinge mechanism. I'm pretty good mechanically, but I don't have
EasyOuts and have never removed a broken bolt. After a few phone calls to local mechanics, I found one that said he could remove the broken stud no problem. I ordered a new bolt from George at AA, and he recommended that I also buy a torsion bar tool. I am glad I took his advice! After the mechanic removed the broken bolt and we installed the hinge mechanism and the new bolt, it took the torsion tool, a crow bar, a ton of pressure, and both of us working together to put the torsion bar back over the hinge pin! Thanks George!

[windforfun]

well thankfully the trunk hinge pivot did not break! A lot easier to tap and clean the threads than weld in a new trunk hinge pivot. Antiseize on the shoulder of the bolt will prevent it from happening again

I was prepping my car for the next car show and was lowering the trunk slowly, then BANG! The closed trunk was now popping up about two inches high on the right side. I reopened it slowly and saw that the trunk hinge was no longer attached to the inner fender. The hinge bolt had sheared of cleanly, flush with the inner fender support bracket. I removed the trunk lid, released the torsion bar and disassembled the hinge mechanism. I'm pretty good mechanically, but I don't have
EasyOuts and have never removed a broken bolt. After a few phone calls to local mechanics, I found one that said he could remove the broken stud no problem. I ordered a new bolt from George at AA, and he recommended that I also buy a torsion bar tool. I am glad I took his advice! After the mechanic removed the broken bolt and we installed the hinge mechanism and the new bolt, it took the torsion tool, a crow bar, a ton of pressure, and both of us working together to put the torsion bar back over the hinge pin! Thanks George!

Congrats on the fix. I think AA might also sell aluminum rollers (vs. the white plastic ones). They're easy to install.

[Mikey914]

These bolts take a lot of stress, not too surprising they do this.


Drop an old towel down to catch shavings and crud. Soak it down with penetrating oil and let sit for an hour.

Then use a left handed drill bit to drill a hole for a screw extractor (easy outs tend to break). Should come out without too much fuss. The key is lots of penetrating oil

The roller really will not make a difference if it's aluminum or delrin, but a good time to replace them. Also check the welds on the bracket while you are there to see if you have stress cracks (this one looks fine from what I can see. This will tell you if you will be back in the near future.

[maf914]

That torsion tool looks a lot like McMark's Original Customs tool. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[JawjaPorsche]

I trashed my torsion bars in 1975 and have not look back.

[DickSteinkamp]

I like the camp914 shox kit. This may not work for the pure stock owners, but it's probably what Porsche would have done if these struts had been invented. Less stress on hinges, easier to remove your trunk lid, much safer.