Trunk height adjustment how to?

[OrangeStang]

Hello all. I know this has been repeated hundreds of times but my trunk lid sits a little bit higher on the right side. Its been like this from the factory and I have been lazy to even consider taking it to the dealer for realigning it. Before I do take it to the dealer and waste a day, is there a way to adjust the height? does this require removing the hinge bolts and simply push it down and retighten the bolts? Would there be any up and down play? anyone with this experience please let me know. Thank you!

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[jstump2490]

Hello all. I know this has been repeated hundreds of times but my trunk lid sits a little bit higher on the right side. Its been like this from the factory and I have been lazy to even consider taking it to the dealer for realigning it. Before I do take it to the dealer and waste a day, is there a way to adjust the height? does this require removing the hinge bolts and simply push it down and retighten the bolts? Would there be any up and down play? anyone with this experience please let me know. Thank you!

I had to adjust one side of my trunk because it was scrapping the body panel when opening and all I did was loosen the bolts holding the hinge to the body and pushed the lid around until I liked where it sat. Just be careful and slowly test opening and closing to make sure you didn't move it to where it scrapes when opening like mine did.

 

[OrangeStang]

I had to adjust one side of my trunk because it was scrapping the body panel when opening and all I did was loosen the bolts holding the hinge to the body and pushed the lid around until I liked where it sat. Just be careful and slowly test opening and closing to make sure you didn't move it to where it scrapes when opening like mine did.

Thank you. I will try that. Was there a enough up and down play by the hinge after loosening the bolts?

 

[jasonstang]

Thank you. I will try that. Was there a enough up and down play by the hinge after loosening the bolts?

Not much you can do.
The problem is mostly caused by the metal stamping process.
I had the same problem and moved the trunk lid so far it scrapped the body and chipped the paint.

 

[OrangeStang]

Not much you can do.
The problem is mostly caused by the metal stamping process.
I had the same problem and moved the trunk lid so far it scrapped the body and chipped the paint.

The black lid is somewhat high above the bumper right now so i have a little bit of play room to lower the entire trunk on the right side at a bit.

 

[jstump2490]

Thank you. I will try that. Was there a enough up and down play by the hinge after loosening the bolts?

There is a decent amount of wiggle room, the bolt holes are not exactly the same size as the bolts. It is a bit tough to get it lined up right because of the complex movement it uses when opening, but take your time and wiggle a piece of paper in between the lid and the body while slowly lowering the lid to make sure the paper doesn't bind indicating contact with the body and you should be ok.

 

[OrangeStang]

There is a decent amount of wiggle room, the bolt holes are not exactly the same size as the bolts. It is a bit tough to get it lined up right because of the complex movement it uses when opening, but take your time and wiggle a piece of paper in between the lid and the body while slowly lowering the lid to make sure the paper doesn't bind indicating contact with the body and you should be ok.

Thanks for tip. How is your trunk aligned now? Does it align up with the quarter panels?

 

[Cobra Jet]

Did you try adjusting the rubber bumpers or stops that are found under the trunk lid when it's raised? They screw in or out, by twisting them manually by hand. The further out they are, the trunk lid will sit higher OR it possibly won't latch properly. If the bumpers are in too far, then the edge of the trunk lid will sit closer to the top of the bumper cover.

Also check the following:

1) At the trunk lid hinges on the run channel, the hinge has a small bolt screwed into it, this is also a height adjustment. I've never messed with it, but if you close your trunk slowly and watch how the hinge operates, you can see that the trunk lid will almost bottom out onto the top of the bolt.

2) The actual latch assembly that is bolted inside of the trunk - I believe that is also adjustable, so if it is sitting too low, the trunk lid also is to catch that latch to lock. If too low, then the trunk lid will possibly make contact with the rear bumper cover.

I would start with the rubber bumpers first, then the latch, then the hinges (last).

Do adjustments GRADUALLY in small increments - because when adjusting body panels, you may get the concerned area corrected, but could end up misaligning the height of the trunk lid or panel gaps elsewhere.

 

[OrangeStang]

Did you try adjusting the rubber bumpers or stops that are found under the trunk lid when it's raised? They screw in or out, by twisting them manually by hand. The further out they are, the trunk lid will sit higher OR it possibly won't latch properly. If the bumpers are in too far, then the edge of the trunk lid will sit closer to the top of the bumper cover.

Also check the following:

1) At the trunk lid hinges on the run channel, the hinge has a small bolt screwed into it, this is also a height adjustment. I've never messed with it, but if you close your trunk slowly and watch how the hinge operates, you can see that the trunk lid will almost bottom out onto the top of the bolt.

2) The actual latch assembly that is bolted inside of the trunk - I believe that is also adjustable, so if it is sitting too low, the trunk lid also is to catch that latch to lock. If too low, then the trunk lid will possibly make contact with the rear bumper cover.

I would start with the rubber bumpers first, then the latch, then the hinges (last).

Do adjustments GRADUALLY in small increments - because when adjusting body panels, you may get the concerned area corrected, but could end up misaligning the height of the trunk lid or panel gaps elsewhere.

I tried adjusting the rubber bumpers first. They wont go up or down they just turn around in circles. I did however measure them and the right bumper is slightly higher. I dont think its that high enough to make it look like the way it looks right now. I also tried adjusting the small screw by the hinge channel like you said but it didnt make a difference. I guess my next and final step is the trunk latch inside. But i was thinking if i do lower the latch then my left side of the trunk will also go down and then my right side of the trunk will align with the rear quarter. Can the latch be adjusted on every angle or just up and down?

 

[jstump2490]

Thanks for tip. How is your trunk aligned now? Does it align up with the quarter panels?

Yes, mine is aligned now, but it wasn't that bad to begin with. It was just barely touching the body panel when closing so I had to slide it out towards the back a bit, mine was aligned correctly height wise.

 

[Cobra Jet]

I tried adjusting the rubber bumpers first. They wont go up or down they just turn around in circles. I did however measure them and the right bumper is slightly higher. I dont think its that high enough to make it look like the way it looks right now. I also tried adjusting the small screw by the hinge channel like you said but it didnt make a difference. I guess my next and final step is the trunk latch inside. But i was thinking if i do lower the latch then my left side of the trunk will also go down and then my right side of the trunk will align with the rear quarter. Can the latch be adjusted on every angle or just up and down?

Rubber bumpers:
When turning or twisting them, you will also have to use a little force by pulling or pushing simultaneously. The rubber is threaded so they are kind of stubborn and designed so that once adjusted they can't change due to vibration or constant use of trunk lid, but they will adjust.

Try those again, then only do latch if needed.

 

[Cobra Jet]

I had to adjust one side of my trunk because it was scrapping the body panel when opening and all I did was loosen the bolts holding the hinge to the body and pushed the lid around until I liked where it sat. Just be careful and slowly test opening and closing to make sure you didn't move it to where it scrapes when opening like mine did.

Just curious when you loosened the bolts, did the paint crack or flake off of the bolts?

 

[jstump2490]

Just curious when you loosened the bolts, did the paint crack or flake off of the bolts?

Yeah it did. It looks like they painted it after assembly so that will happen.

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