.
Console latch repair . . .
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 78
From: Miami FL
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Console latch repair . . .
So, am I the ONLY one to have broken the dinky little plastic latch off of my center console lid ? ? ? 
Yes, the lid will stay down nicely with the assistance of gravity, but I have an '06 model with a LOCKING console lid, so having the latch is kind of nice.
Gluing the broken plastic one back on didn't work (and I didn't expect it to), so I replaced it with aluminum and steel.
I filed a new 6061-T6 aluminum latch to shape, twice as thick where it joins the platform, drilled and tapped it for a 6-32 screw, and screwed and epoxied it to the platform. A little work with the Dremel tool and a bit of test-fitting made it work just fine. You can see the tapered section of the screw where the latch was ground down at the correct angle to work.
IMO this is how GM shoulda done it it the first place. This one is NOT gonna break . . . .
Yes, the lid will stay down nicely with the assistance of gravity, but I have an '06 model with a LOCKING console lid, so having the latch is kind of nice.
Gluing the broken plastic one back on didn't work (and I didn't expect it to), so I replaced it with aluminum and steel.
I filed a new 6061-T6 aluminum latch to shape, twice as thick where it joins the platform, drilled and tapped it for a 6-32 screw, and screwed and epoxied it to the platform. A little work with the Dremel tool and a bit of test-fitting made it work just fine. You can see the tapered section of the screw where the latch was ground down at the correct angle to work.
IMO this is how GM shoulda done it it the first place. This one is NOT gonna break . . . .
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 78
From: Miami FL
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,158
Likes: 152
From: Chicago IL
They should also add the little self adhesive bumpers under the lid or on the console where the lid meets the console to prevent it from sliding around everytime you lean on it! Best cheap mod I've read about... Once or twice a week I'd have to tighten up the screws on the hinges that attach the lid to the console...
Been there, done that... 
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 78
From: Miami FL
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Up to you to file, drill, tap, find a 6-32 screw, install, tweak, etc. etc. etc.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 78
From: Miami FL
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 486
Likes: 6
From: Southern New Jersey
Nice job fixing that el-cheapo console latch.
Mine went last year and I haven't really thought about fixing it yet. I installed a leather console cover over the original cover and it doesn't stay 100% closed because of the additional material. I'd like to get it to latch again.
What type of latch did you improvise yours from? You mentioned you used alum. and steel, was the steel the screw?
It looks like a good fix and I'd like to try my hand at it. Any more information on what type of alum. piece you used would be helpful, I threw out the broken piece of plastic long ago!
Thanks,
TomZ
Mine went last year and I haven't really thought about fixing it yet. I installed a leather console cover over the original cover and it doesn't stay 100% closed because of the additional material. I'd like to get it to latch again.
What type of latch did you improvise yours from? You mentioned you used alum. and steel, was the steel the screw?
It looks like a good fix and I'd like to try my hand at it. Any more information on what type of alum. piece you used would be helpful, I threw out the broken piece of plastic long ago!
Thanks,
TomZ