If anyone has advice please on how to adjust/repair the trunk lid hinge on a 91 Camry, I would appreciate the info. The passenger side of the trunk up near the hinge keeps getting higher and higher (farther out of alignment) right where the hinge attaches to the trunk lid. I have seen this problem on many similar cars, so this appears to be a common problem. I can't see that anything is bent and I don't know if there is an adjustment for this.
Thanks in advance, Doug
There is a rivet at pivot that wears badly in this model. I repaired mine by prying out the rivet and replacing it with a bolt and lock nut. Keeping the hinge lubricated will help to avoid this problem.
John
A rivet at the pivot, you say... Is there a chalice with a palace nearby? Or a flagon with a dragon? ;-P
Seriously, if you wanted to fix his on the cheap, get the hinge loose and grind out the rivet so you have two halves.
Clamp the hinge and the hinge base on a drill press and re-drill the holes bigger to the next standard bolt shank size, shifting the parts to allow for the side that was worn - so the hole is larger, but centered where it's supposed to be centered. DO NOT force a dull drill through by sheer friction and ruin the temper of the steel. De-burr the holes.
Go find a bolt that has the right length of smooth shank under the bolt head to go through the hinge pin portion, allow for a couple flat washers, and have the threaded part start up right where the nut will go - the length of the threads is not important, you need a smooth shank as the hinge pivot. Threads will wear down too fast, and you'll be right back where you started with a sloppy hinge.
Put one flatwasher on the bolt, put the bolt through the hinge body and hinge arm, another flatwasher, and then thread a Nylock nut and snug it down against the end of the threads. Cut off the excess threads with a hacksaw or Sawzall. Bolt it onto the car and test the fit and operation - if it's sloppy, add another flatwasher.
If it works OK take it all apart, clean everything. Grease the hinge and assemble (and if you didn't have a Nylock nut, take a centerpunch and stake the nut threads on so it can't back out) and bolt it on the car for good.
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Or, go to your friendly neighbourhood Toyota dealer and buy the part. Install it. Carry on.
It is fairly obvious that the original poster is less than a machinist. It is unlikely he has a drill press, which is the best way to accomplish a straight, round hole. He will attempt this with is 6V B&D cordless drill, get a nice ob-round hole and be worse off than he is now, with greasy, bloody hands and a goose-egg on his head where the trunk fell on him.
Not trying to offend the original poster, but if he asked the question without first discovering that the hinge is worn at the rivet, he is not a real do-it-yourselfer in the automotive department. I could be all wrong, he may be a fully qualified machinist with a shop better than a NASCAR team, and just acting like a troll. But I doubt it.
Dan
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