jammed glove box question

[packman]

I just changed my latch. I got tired of the thing not closing right and being a bitch to open. I swapped the lock portion from my original and used that with the guts of a known good glovebox latch. No problems.

If I can get the current latch off, I will go to Home Depot and look for a small knob or something to use in it's place.



Packman

[gadget73]

I'm starting to wonder if its time to convince someone into small foundry work to cast the latch release levers out of steel or something. Probably would cost more than its worth to do.

[GM_Guy]

The "scissor" part you could make yourself with some patience, rivet, and a file. As it is, its made from cheap pot metal and just waiting for an excuse to break a leg. And when it does, only one catch will release. And thats where some brute force comes in while you try to see which catch is not releasing.

Red circle is the missing leg of the "scissor", that leg sits in a slot in the catch itself (greenish backwards L pointing it out). Green arrows are where the thumb latches press against the scissor to uncatch the latch. The spring sits between each catch and keeps things shut. That little pot metal "scissor" gets to work against rather firm spring pressure, and it is the typical, When-not If it will break.

Alex.

[King_V]

Not that I'm normally in the habit of dredging up ancient threads, but.... Ugh, I finally got to experience this myself. I guess after 27 years, I shouldn't complain. I am complaining, but I shouldn't.

Found the "scissors" in a junkyard car, put it all back together, but managed to break the plastic outer cover (with the vinyl/leather looking pattern, item to the farthest right in Alex's pic). Broke into only two pieces, though, so I could put the upper part back and it all holds together.

It lasted 2 weeks. I think both scissor levers broke this time. Then again, I did pull that stuff out of the TWO junkyard cars I found that had it. I suspect they were older than mine. Fortunately, I have another set, but the whole brute-force method of opening things makes me CRINGE...

Still, does anyone make this thing new? And, if so, how do I swap my lock-cylinder over to the new one?

[sly]

and I've been pondering the possibility of making an aero or even whale type latch work in one. Pondering it... no actual work towards making one fit since mine still works.

[slack]

Still, does anyone make this thing new? And, if so, how do I swap my lock-cylinder over to the new one?

I was able to get a new glove box lock off of eBay. I only swapped over the scissors and kept everything else original in my lock. It's been a couple of months and haven't had any problems with it.

[gadget73]

If you squeeze the latch when you shut it, then release, the scissors hold up better. It seems to be the shock of them popping back out tht breaks them. Thats actually a part that someone into small home foundry work could make easily out of aluminum or zinc if they were so inclined. Brass would even work.