How to fix glove box latch handle noise?

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accent - 30 Jul 2006 09:14 GMT

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?

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nothermark - 30 Jul 2006 15:54 GMT

>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?

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.

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Bob Adkins - 30 Jul 2006 21:58 GMT

>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.

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.

Signature

Bob

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nothermark - 01 Aug 2006 02:02 GMT

>>stick on weather stripping?
>>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>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.

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.

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Bob Adkins - 01 Aug 2006 03:41 GMT

>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.

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.

Signature

Bob

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nothermark - 02 Aug 2006 00:47 GMT

>>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
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>I've never seen live rubber or Neoprene take much of a set. They usually
>work, even if over compressed.

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".

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accent - 02 Aug 2006 02:29 GMT

>>>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
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>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".

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.

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