Well, after I finished replacing the front brakes on my coupe today in preparation for the Dutch Classic....I hit the power decklid release button to put something in the trunk and BAM! the trunk sprung up a good 4 inches, but at the wrong end!

Upon further investigation it looks like the pin in the middle of the hinge has sheared completely through on both sides:

Needless to say I'm a little frustrated because I didn't need this to happen now (course when do you ever need anything to just break unexpectedly)

Anyways, obviously I need to replace the hinge. Hopefully I can source one in a junkyard tomorrow. Anyone got an idea how to go about replacing one? I'm especially worred about the torsion rod since the rest of the hinge looks like it'll come off by removing the two bolts on the decklid and the two bolts on the frame. I don't need a broken rear window next, so I need to know if there are any tricks to doing this (it also looks like the torsion rod attaches with one of those Torx bolts with the pin in the middle, anyone know what size I'll need to go an buy since none of my Torx tools have the hole in the middle for the pin?)

Dangit, dangit, dangit. I just hope I also don't mess the paint on the decklid up too much when I take everything apart tomorrow as it's in pretty good shape.

Has anyone ever had a hinge break on them like this? (wondering if I should stock up on a couple if I find them in the yard) Note that I also had Rodney's decklid gas strut on this hinge help hold the decklid up since I added the rear wing to the car a few years back. Wondering if this put too much stress on the hinge or something....

Hope someone can help me out...

Ken S.

Wow, never saw that one before!
Man alive, you were lucky that hinge did not go through the window.

I have taken off the deck lid and I have adjusted the torsion springs, but I have not renmoved the hinges themselves.
Here is what I can help with.

Ok, that is a safety torx bolt, the folks here on the forum and myself have snapped off the middle pin and used a regular torx on that, or you can buy a set of safety torx. Maybe rent them from auto parts store.

Put a 2 x 4 between window and hinges.

It was either a 15 or a 13 MM socket on hinge to deck bolts but first take pressure off the other torsion spring.

Use a ratchet strap on the lower part(U-bend) of torsion spring against a tree/ pole or I used the latch for the deck lock.

CAUTION! Those torsion springs are under tremendous pressure.

You have to pull the bottom of the spring towards the back of the car enough to pull the pin out. then slowly release strap.

It was at this point that I hope that someone can chime in and confirm that the presure is off the spring and it will be safe to remove the two hinge to frame bolts.

That hinge snapping is rotten break but thank God that it did not break the window or worse, hurt somebody.

Good luck and God's speed getting it repaired.

EDIT!
I found that magic link to the decklid hinge repair for you. http://home.xnet.com/~paulv/techtips.htm#Torque%20rod%20Replacement

Way too many Fiero bookmarks on my computer.

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jetman
Silver 86 SE 2M6 4-speed, with "check wallet light"

[This message has been edited by jetman (edited 08-13-2003).]

This will become a more common problem in the years ahead. The hinge pin rusted and eventually started to seize and then twisted and failed. Most Fiero owners have never oiled their deck lid hinge pins. I think I'll do mine right now.

WOW. As the others said...I'm glad it didn't go through the window!

Good luck with the repair.Hope it goes smooothly.

Anyone got a spare hinge?

Kslish, I would first put plywood over the window to protect it. Then cloth over the trunk lid to protect it. Carefully open the trunk lid. Break the center pin off the torx screw so you can use a normal torx tool. Hook a strap or chain to the trosion rod under the passenger side hinge and remove the pin holding the torsion rod. Now you can safely remove the torx screw on the broken hinge. If I am alone I use a come-a-long to pull the torsion bar or if I got a strong friend I have them pull the torsion bar to get the pin out.

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Red 88 GT T-Top 3800 INTERCOOLED SUPERCHARGED
White 88 GT Stock
Please give me a rating if you appreciate my contribution.
History of Skitimes Car UPDATED 8-11-03

Let's stop and think for a minute guys....

That hinge pin has to resist the force of the torsion bars when you close the deck lid...Now you have added the air springs!!

Now when you push the deck lid down now you are forcing the hinge pin to resist the torsion bars AND the air springs!! Plus a little corrosion and wear, no wonder it broke!!

I recommend using the Torsion Bars OR the air Springs to hold the deck lid but NOT both.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Rick M.

I'll second that AAAARRGGGH!!

Just got my Fiero ready to the SHRA dragracing final/car-show tomorrow.

As usual I don't do anything major to the car before a show because something ALWAYS goes wrong and most often I have to order a part from USA and that takes a week or two.

So today I just washed my car and was going to pop the lid to clean the edges when... BOOM!!
Hinge pin broke, exactly like "kslish" and it looks like it's been snapped for a while just hanging on one side.

Pulled the lid and the whole hinge assembly off because the pin has siezed in the hinge so bad I had to drill it out.
Well now I have to manufacture some kind of pin... this time hardened steel or stainless.
Looks like the car-show is off because it's a pain to get those torsion bars right and I don't want to redo it after the show.

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Jorgen Larsson
1987 Fiero GT
1968 Corvette Conv.
1998 Ford Escort RS Ghia

quote Originally posted by Michelhaugh: Let's stop and think for a minute guys.... That hinge pin has to resist the force of the torsion bars when you close the deck lid...Now you have added the air springs!! Now when you push the deck lid down now you are forcing the hinge pin to resist the torsion bars AND the air springs!! Plus a little corrosion and wear, no wonder it broke!! I recommend using the Torsion Bars OR the air Springs to hold the deck lid but NOT both. Just my 2 cents worth. Rick M.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Especially when you look at how those struts are mounted. The force being exerted from the struts is pushing the deck-lid up and forward at the front (window) more than it is "swinging" the rear open. Twice the force needed being applied to a 14+ year old hinge that's been opened and closed about half a million times = BOOM! Something is gonna fail.

I've had an '85 GT and an '86 SE with the same thing so I know the story. We were fortunate to get some other used hinges. I now have gas struts that don't put near the same stress on the pin. This would be a good part to have remanufactured as our cars are getting older.