Chim boot hinge

[oxladed]

I have a 1996 Chimaera and the driver's side boot hinge has broken. It is the aluminium arm that has snapped (i.e. not the hinge itself). Does anybody know what options are there for replacing this part? I.e., can I replace just the piece of aluminium (a straight piece about 6" long) or does the whole hinge need replacing?

Additionally, if the hinge needs replacing, how difficult is this job?

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Dave

[TVR keith]

I cannot help as mine is a 2000 model with the later hinge so don't know what this bit of ally looks like.
As no one else has replied perhaps if you post a pic on here of it that will stir some answers

[Bunglist]

Mine is a 97 and i had a boot hinge go on me a while ago.

Although i have noticed that they do vary from car to car, and the one on mine i had to buy a complete hinge, but you could i think buy the aluminium piece separately.

Post some pictures so we can see what type of hinge you have.

What i will say is that you needed small hands to replace mine as getting to the bolts was a nightmare, as there is little room, unless i was doing wrong.

Also alining the boot lid so it sits flush is no easy either. (well i found it difficult, but then i had only had the car for about 4 months at that point)

[MickC]

Mine went in the same place and I also had to purchase the complete hinge.

However after looking at how much hassle it was to change the complete hinge (and seal it in etc) i just removed the bar from the new one and replaced the broken bar leaving the old 'hinge' part where it was. The bar was attached to the hinge and boot lid by few allen bolts IIRC.

[blueyonder]

MickC said:

Mine went in the same place and I also had to purchase the complete hinge.

However after looking at how much hassle it was to change the complete hinge (and seal it in etc) i just removed the bar from the new one and replaced the broken bar leaving the old 'hinge' part where it was. The bar was attached to the hinge and boot lid by few allen bolts IIRC.

MickC, Where did you buy the hinge from and did it come with the trim for the boot lid side of the hinge? Mine is a 97 Chim and part of the trim on the boot lid side of the hinge has disappeared and I can't find a replacement anywhere. Went to Bellhill breakers who didn't have any in and said I would struggle to find it anywhere and suggested it would be better if someone could machine the piece from a lump of aluminium!!

Thanks for your help

[MickC]

blueyonder said:

MickC, Where did you buy the hinge from and did it come with the trim for the boot lid side of the hinge? Mine is a 97 Chim and part of the trim on the boot lid side of the hinge has disappeared and I can't find a replacement anywhere. Went to Bellhill breakers who didn't have any in and said I would struggle to find it anywhere and suggested it would be better if someone could machine the piece from a lump of aluminium!!

Thanks for your help

I got it from the dealer, must have been a couple of years ago. Sorry not really sure what bit of trim you are on about, I'm guessing the trim was fine as all I had to do was unscrew the bar from the lid/hinge and refit the new one straight back on.

I will take a look at it again when i get back home

[kenny Chim 4]

oxladed said:

It is the aluminium arm that has snapped (i.e. not the hinge itself). Does anybody know what options are there for replacing this part? I.e., can I replace just the piece of aluminium (a straight piece about 6" long) or does the whole hinge need replacing?

Last week I suffered the same thing and on Wednesday, Douglas Valley breakers called me back and I took delivery of (2) used hinges the next day. Today, as MickC suggested, I undid the Allen bolt under the 'bulb' of the hinge and simply re-fitted the replacement aluminium strut.

[andy-w]

take the arm off and get it welded up?
Would only cost a couple of pound at a local welder/fabricator shop...?

[SimonV8ster]

The boot lid on mine sits a little proud compared to the wings but there is no more adjustment to bring it back down. Has anyone else experienced this ??

Looking through the service history a dealer tried to adjust it also but just said they couldn't do anymore. Is the bootlid supposed to be perfectly flat compaered to the wings??

[S7Paul]

SimonV8ster said:

The boot lid on mine sits a little proud compared to the wings but there is no more adjustment to bring it back down. Has anyone else experienced this ??

Looking through the service history a dealer tried to adjust it also but just said they couldn't do anymore. Is the bootlid supposed to be perfectly flat compaered to the wings??

I'd be interested in the answer to this, because mine's nicely flush on the passenger side but is too high on the drivers side. I can't see any way to adjust it.

[SimonV8ster]

The allen bolt that goes up into the hinge adjusts it but mine is at maximum with no more adjustment. Screwing it up pulls the bolt lid down if i remember correctly.

[SimonV8ster]

Anybody know about the boot hinges ?? I was going to buy a couple of bolts and shave a bit off the bottom to see if that would work.