Disco 1 glovebox catch

[Utemad]

Hi all,

How do you line up the catch for the glovebox without going insane?

In about July I broke the panel which holds the catch for the glovebox on by overloading the glovebox and slamming it shut.

I discovered that I wasn't the first person to do it on that car as it has obviously been glued on since the factory before.

There are plastic tabs that go through the metal panel that I assume originally held it in place by being melted.
The first time I glued the panel back on it was too high and not in the correct spot horizontally. The second time it was put in at the correct height but slightly too far to the right.
The catch has no room for error so alignment needs to be perfect. I have filed the holes larger on the plastic catch to get some fine tuning but there still isn't much room to move. Not that it matters much if you can't see what is going on.

The problem is you cannot see to align the catch. I can't see any panel that I could remove to get a view of the alignment.

This is driving me insane. I am about ready to remove it and burn the ****ing glove box

[4bee]

Justin, if you mean the strike (the in box plastic bit) then all mine has, is a piece of angle with the plastic strike screwed to that with hex head screws..

[Utemad]

Yes that is what I am talking about. Is yours the factory angle bit with the glove box light on it?

My problem is that the entire angle peice of metal came off and I can't get that in the right spot in order to then align the plastic catch.

[4bee]

That's it. Aaahhh right.

I don't know the construction in there, but would it be easier if the box is taken completely out, do all the business & refit it? It "appears" to all the one sub section, but I ain't sure.

By what I have read it's reasonably easy to get out.


Failing that, what about a "Mr Bean 3" Sliding Bolt"?

[101RRS]

Justin - I am going to be real helpful here

I feel your pain
Been there, done that on my disco - if you don't succeed - try and try again

Garry

[Utemad]

I've been trying since July

[Utemad]

That's it. Aaahhh right.

I don't know the construction in there, but would it be easier if the box is taken completely out, do all the business & refit it? It "appears" to all the one sub section, but I ain't sure.

By what I have read it's reasonably easy to get out.


Failing that, what about a "Mr Bean 3" Sliding Bolt"?

As far as I can tell the catch part is mounted to the entire dashboard top. No way I can see of pulling it out and aligning and then refitting.

In the last few months I have had it held in place with tape, entirely removed but mostly just hanging open banging my wifes knees. Lucky she is short.

[4bee]

Roight! Just been over to have a good shufti for you.

Magnifying mirror ( 5") up inside & you can just about see over the top of the angle. I can see the black plastic "welds" & there is a reasonable amout of metal in there.

Don't castrate me if I am wrong, but I still believe the only way you are going to fix it properly, is to remove the glove box out. There are some bracing bits & screws that I can see but something is telling me that it is all the one assembly.
Once out, you can take your time & align & fix everything before replacing it, possibly stronger than original.

Sorry I can't see more, but there is a bit of a visual dead area in there right where you want it.

[Utemad]

Thanks for that 4bee. I'll have a go at removing things after lunch.

[Utemad]

Hi 4bee,

I had a look at removing the frame and saw what you are talking about. The only problem would be that I would not be able to line up the catch with the frame out as the door lines up with other things. unless the little black melted plastic thingos only let the catch frame sit in exactly the one spot. Not so sure I'd be able to get the frame out of the glovebox hole either. Looks bulky.

I pulled the hand grip (no airbags) off thinking I might be able to see down but nope. Just more metal and plastic.
To get the frame out mentioned above you need to pull the handgrip anyway as there are two big rivets you'd have to drill out.

At the moment I've pulled the catch frame out and aligned it as perfectly as I possibly can and glued it back in. We will see how that fairs later.