Rear hatch issues

**HOBS** · 04-12-2011, 07:28 AM

So I was lookin at the back of the T/A yesterday and I noticed that the rear hatch isn't aligned right. If your lookin at the brake lights the left side is basically touching the brake lights and then the gap grows as you move right to almost .5" above the right brake light. Then at the top the left side is pretty tight with the sail panel and the right side again has a massive gap between the hatch and the sail panel. I'm baffled on how the top and bottom of the hatch can have a gap on the right. Is my hatch just out of alignment, if so how do I fix it? Or did I somehow twist my body? I don't drag race or autox,no sfc's, but I did have it on a lift recently to change the oil. Any ideas would be appreciated.

**Smittro** · 04-12-2011, 07:39 AM

Pics?

SFC's?

Could be a side effect of the torque dimples we get..

**KMdef9** · 04-12-2011, 09:09 AM

I agree, pics!

How well does it open and close?

Have you ever adjusted the rubber stoppers near the corners? Try spinning the left side up and the rightside down.

This is all assuming the lights are in good condition.

**sjsingle1** · 04-12-2011, 11:24 AM

my hatch does not fit good enough for my liking......but i have seen worse fits on others

**JayTA98** · 04-12-2011, 03:02 PM

check the weatherstrippping of the hatch also. there is a piece of foam strip inside of the weatherstrip on each side. If they are in the wrong place it will cause the hatch to look uneven when close. I had to remove one of them.

**sjsingle1** · 04-12-2011, 06:27 PM

i have never seen said foam piece.........went and looked........no foam thingys

**JayTA98** · 04-12-2011, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by sjsingle1

i have never seen said foam piece.........went and looked........no foam thingys

you have to feel the foam and you will feel the 2 pieces inside the rubber part.

**HOBS** · 04-13-2011, 06:41 AM

I'll get some pics up as soon as I can.I do not have SFC's, its on the list but I haven't gotten them yet.. It opens and closes ok I have to slam it but not ridiculous. Didn't know the hatch had those rubber adjuster deals but that wouldn't change the gap would it? It doesn't stick up or sit lower than the quarter panel. Anyone got pics of torque dimples they can post?

**Smittro** · 04-13-2011, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by HOBS

I'll get some pics up as soon as I can.I do not have SFC's, its on the list but I haven't gotten them yet.. It opens and closes ok I have to slam it but not ridiculous. Didn't know the hatch had those rubber adjuster deals but that wouldn't change the gap would it? It doesn't stick up or sit lower than the quarter panel. Anyone got pics of torque dimples they can post?

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread...torque+dimples

Here maybe this will help..

**sjsingle1** · 04-13-2011, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by JayTA98

you have to feel the foam and you will feel the 2 pieces inside the rubber part.

how big?

**HOBS** · 04-13-2011, 02:56 PM

Photobuckets being a bitch but heres a couple of pics.
Left tailight

Right taillight

**Smittro** · 04-13-2011, 04:09 PM

Imho, hatch is definetly off @ the hinges..

The hatch hinges have slotted holes and can be adjusted..

Have a buddy help adjust it because the glass is very heavy and it will make it a lil easier with a set of eyes watching both upper and lower gaps..

With extra hands I was able to get it dialed @ roughly a 4-5mm gap the whole way around the hatch..

**Cutlass** · 04-13-2011, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by sjsingle1

how big?

It should be somewhere in this area between the 2 pieces of tape...on both sides

**HOBS** · 04-14-2011, 02:47 PM

I'm not sure how to get this to look right just by adjusting the hinges. Heres the top by the sail panel that illustrates my conundrum(sp?) a little better. Both gaps are on the right side so by my logic no matter what I do I'll make one of the gaps even bigger or am I just being a dumbass?
Left side.

Right side.

**JayTA98** · 04-14-2011, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by sjsingle1

how big?

they are about 6 inches long.

**JayTA98** · 04-14-2011, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

It should be somewhere in this area between the 2 pieces of tape...on both sides

yep thanks Cutlass.

**sjsingle1** · 04-14-2011, 05:28 PM

i dont think that removing any foam from that area will achieve the affect i want

**sjsingle1** · 04-14-2011, 05:29 PM

hobbs......take it to a body shop and have them do it?

**Cutlass** · 04-14-2011, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by sjsingle1

i dont think that removing any foam from that area will achieve the affect i want

I don't think so either. I think the foam might be there to support the weatherstrip from creasing in that area.

**JayTA98** · 04-16-2011, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

I don't think so either. I think the foam might be there to support the weatherstrip from creasing in that area.

I agree, in my case when I put a new weatherstrip the right side was out of place in the area where the foam is. I tried multiple things to lower it down but no luck. i ended up pulling out the foam and it lower back to normal.