Thread: D3 Glovebox - Repair Handle

After much delay, I have just repaired the handle on my passenger side glove box, which was just hanging on and threatening to break off completely.

Steps were:-
1 Remove cover by undoing the two screws at bottom of cover then lever away from body of car so that plastic hinge pins can be levered out to release the cover.

2 Using paint scraper (thin broad flat steel lever) gently separate cover body and face by working gently around edges.

3 Lever off plastic "Lift handle".

4 Select steel rod for new axle, approx 4mm thick and 75 mm long. Measure to length and drill two holes for tie wire to pass through axle. Cut axle to length. The tie wire will be bent around to make a secure bond for the axle with the epoxy putty to be applied later.

5 Grind off any remaining plastic axle on the handle housing of the cover portion of the lid, this will allow the new steel axle to be seated correctly.

6 Slide axle onto handle then thread tie wire through holes in axle, then slide some strong plastic (a bit of shopping bag) between axle and handle so that when putty is applied it will not glue itself to plastic handle.

7 Test the seating of the handle in the housing and adjust as necessary.

8 Mix and knead epoxy putty and then press it around the tie wire making sure none touches the plastic handle, lay handle into housing then turn cover over and apply more putty to the back of handle housing.

9 IMPORTANT - MOVE HANDLE BACK AND FORWARDS TO ENSURE HANDLE HAS FULL RANGE OF MOVEMENT BEFORE EPOXY SETS.

10 BEFORE EPOXY FULLY SETS, GENTLY PULL OUT THE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT WAS BETWEEN AXLE AND HANDLE.

11 Glue cover and body back together.

12 Refit to car.

13 Tell boss how much money you have just saved and use some of that goodwill to get a new fishing rod etc, perhaps it would be better not to mention money at all.

Hope this helps,

Ryall

Photo's attached.

Thanks. I will try this when I get a chance.

Originally Posted by TDV6

After much delay, I have just repaired the handle on my passenger side glove box, which was just hanging on and threatening to break off completely.

Steps were:-
1 Remove cover by undoing the two screws at bottom of cover then lever away from body of car so that plastic hinge pins can be levered out to release the cover.

2 Using paint scraper (thin broad flat steel lever) gently separate cover body and face by working gently around edges.

3 Lever off plastic "Lift handle".

4 Select steel rod for new axle, approx 4mm thick and 75 mm long. Measure to length and drill two holes for tie wire to pass through axle. Cut axle to length. The tie wire will be bent around to make a secure bond for the axle with the epoxy putty to be applied later.

5 Grind off any remaining plastic axle on the handle housing of the cover portion of the lid, this will allow the new steel axle to be seated correctly.

6 Slide axle onto handle then thread tie wire through holes in axle, then slide some strong plastic (a bit of shopping bag) between axle and handle so that when putty is applied it will not glue itself to plastic handle.

7 Test the seating of the handle in the housing and adjust as necessary.

8 Mix and knead epoxy putty and then press it around the tie wire making sure none touches the plastic handle, lay handle into housing then turn cover over and apply more putty to the back of handle housing.

9 IMPORTANT - MOVE HANDLE BACK AND FORWARDS TO ENSURE HANDLE HAS FULL RANGE OF MOVEMENT BEFORE EPOXY SETS.

10 BEFORE EPOXY FULLY SETS, GENTLY PULL OUT THE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT WAS BETWEEN AXLE AND HANDLE.

11 Glue cover and body back together.

12 Refit to car.

13 Tell boss how much money you have just saved and use some of that goodwill to get a new fishing rod etc, perhaps it would be better not to mention money at all.

Hope this helps,

Ryall

Photo's attached.