How to fix glove box latch handle noise?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by accent, Jul 30, 2006.

  1. accent

    accent Guest

    The glove box latch handle has rubber stoppers that are now crushed.
    This prevents a snug fit when the glove box is closed and causes an
    annoying buzzing sound on the road. I have try padding the stoppers
    with various material but they end up crushed too. Any ideas?
     
    accent, Jul 30, 2006
    #1
  2. accent

    nothermark Guest

    stick on weather stripping?

    Why are the stock parts getting crushed? It sounds like the latch gap
    may be too small so that you really have to crush the bumpers to close
    the door. If you open up the gap a bit and put in new bumpers it
    might be the answer.
     
    nothermark, Jul 30, 2006
    #2
  3. accent

    Bob Adkins Guest

    You had me going there for a moment. Remember that even when you jam
    bumpers in it, the door winds up loose again. So it's not too tight.

    The solution is to find good material that doesn't take a "set". The best
    I've found so far is natural "live" rubber, and Neoprene. Both types are
    common, but can be hard to find in just the right size and density.
     
    Bob Adkins, Jul 30, 2006
    #3
  4. accent

    nothermark Guest

    It's been a long time since I did a materials class so I don't recall
    the correct terms. What I was alluding to was the idea that any
    material can be stretched or compressed past it's elastic limit so
    that it takes on a new dimension when the force is removed. In the
    case of bumpers I have seen them deformed various ways that resulted
    in reducing their ability to spring back to a usefull size. If he is
    crushing them as he stated that is probably what is happening. Same
    as crushing or stretching a spring.
     
    nothermark, Aug 1, 2006
    #4
  5. accent

    Bob Adkins Guest

    Ah, I gotcha. Foamed plastics are bad about that.

    I've never seen live rubber or Neoprene take much of a set. They usually
    work, even if over compressed.
     
    Bob Adkins, Aug 1, 2006
    #5
  6. accent

    nothermark Guest

    Agreed, to the point where they splay out, effectively losing height.
    That is what I took him to mean by " stoppers that are now crushed".
     
    nothermark, Aug 2, 2006
    #6
  7. accent

    accent Guest

    Yes. It is like an egg crate effect. The looseness is not enough to
    make the glove box door rattle but the latch has a metal plate inside
    that makes a noisy buzz. If I can take the latch apart, I may be able
    to put a shim in between the plate.

    Filling the void in the foam makes a snug fit and stops the buzz. I
    have some neoprene electrical plugs I can cut up and shape but it
    seems like such a pain. It is a problem shaping them right and getting
    them to stay put when I open and close the glove box.
     
    accent, Aug 2, 2006
    #7
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