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The Volvo 850 glovebox is notorious for breaking. When it
does, you must cut the glovebox and/or latch to get into
the glovebox, then buy new parts that can run as high as
$100+. And since the problem is a design flaw with the glovebox
latch itself, the new parts will eventually break as well!
The following is the procedure to reinforce the stock part
so it will not break. You can also use the same procedure
to repair the part after it has already broken. It's very
easy to do - a 2 on a scale from 1 to 10. Total cost $0.99
and is enough to do 4 gloveboxes (or $0.25 to fix your glovebox;
however you want to look at it).
Tools/Materials needed:
- Phillips screwdriver
- Dremel
- Cutting and sanding bits for Dremel
- 1/16" drill bit, 3/32" drill bit, 1/8" drill bit
- #6-32 tap
- #6-32x3/8" socket head screw (available at any hardware
store)
The Materials:
Step 1. Remove the glovebox door piece that houses
the latch mechanism. On the door you just removed, take
a look at how all the springs and pins and arms and stuff
are laid out and oriented. You'll need to remember when
you go to put it back together.
Step 2. Unscrew the brown triangular shaped latch
piece in the center.
Step 3. Carefully pry off the small c-clip holding
the latch pin to the frame.
Step 4. Remove the latch pin. The small post is
what breaks. Yours may already be bent or broken - this
one isn't broken, but why wait around until it does?
Step 5. Using a Dremel, remove the small post using
a cutoff disc or wire snips etc. Sand what is left of the
post down as low as you can go. Don't sand too much because
you have to know exactly where the post was to center your
drill bit.
Step 6. Drill a small pilot hole in the center of
where the small post was using the 1/16" drill bit. Then
enlarge the hole using the 3/32" drill bit. Finally, enlarge
the hole using the 1/8" drill bit.
Step 7. Carefully tap the hole using the #6-32 tap.
Step 8. Sand a small curved relief into the large
head of the latch pin to allow the socket cap screw's head
to clear. Then insert the socket cap screw and tighten.
A dab of loctite isn't necessary but won't hurt for the
extra piece of mind:
Here is what the completed latch pin should look like:
Step 9. Install the completed latch pin back into
the frame, replace the c-clip, and finish putting everything
back together the way it was taken apart.
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