Cheap fix for a stripped rear glass hinge

[koda2000]

I never use the rear window on my 2000 XLT, but today I noticed that the glass was up against the paint on one side of the lift-gate and it had been making noise rubbing. I tried to tighten the 2 big-headed torx screws and found the right hinge was stripped. I removed the hinge from the truck with the intention of drilling through the hinge and using a bolt though it with a nyloc nut. While holding the hinge in my hand I wondered if maybe a similar sized SAE (1/4"x20) bolt would catch the partially stripped treads. I tried one with a couple of washers under the head and it worked. If it was one of my nicer trucks I would have looked for a replacement hinge, but for this truck it's good enough and it cost me nothing to fix it.

 

[skpyle]

Good idea. I went through this on my '99 last year. I went through three sets of good(at that moment) junkyard hinges. Killed them all.
I noticed that the threaded portion of the torx shoulder bolt is shorter than the threaded hole. It only engages two or three threads. And then you are done.

My driver's side hinge has a longer matching metric bolt and fender washer holding the glass onto the hinge. The bolt grabbed the still good threads at the bottom of the hole.

One of these days I will pony up the $50-$75 each for new Ford hinges...but, they are still the same lousy pot metal.

I like your idea...


Seth K. Pyle

 

[koda2000]

Good idea. I went through this on my '99 last year. I went through three sets of good(at that moment) junkyard hinges. Killed them all.
I noticed that the threaded portion of the torx shoulder bolt is shorter than the threaded hole. It only engages two or three threads. And then you are done.

My driver's side hinge has a longer matching metric bolt and fender washer holding the glass onto the hinge. The bolt grabbed the still good threads at the bottom of the hole.

One of these days I will pony up the $50-$75 each for new Ford hinges...but, they are still the same lousy pot metal.

I like your idea...

Seth K. Pyle

Yes, I was surprised at how few threads the OE bolt had. The bolt I used was 1/2" long and I put two 1/4" washers under the bolt head so it didn't bottom out in the hinge. It tightened up very nicely.

 

[Flash]

 

[Turdle]

Looks like that is about to fall of also.

I have been through this myself, except it is the left side I am fighting. After trying 3 different used sets I moved on to other problems. Right now I have a partially threaded hinge with the air supports removed.

 

[koda2000]

I've seen strange redneck fixes that rival that. I once saw a 80's Lincoln that had a home window air conditioner mounted to the driver's side rear window, using plywood and duct tape, parked in a Walmart lot. I guess someone was living in it.

 

[toypaseo]

I have been through this myself, except it is the left side I am fighting. After trying 3 different used sets I moved on to other problems. Right now I have a partially threaded hinge with the air supports removed.

[MENTION=186147]koda2000[/MENTION], if Jon does not want the rights to the sets I have for him, you can get them...

 

[koda2000]

[MENTION=186147]koda2000[/MENTION], if Jon does not want the rights to the sets I have for him, you can get them...

Thanks.

 

[Turdle]

[MENTION=186147]koda2000[/MENTION], if Jon does not want the rights to the sets I have for him, you can get them...

HA ha!

I only need one good left hinge. And I am right on top of this, sent Koda a good right hinge this AM.

You never said how much I owe you though.