Liftgate Garnish bolts and nuts

If you've broken it 3 times there's probably something wrong with how you're using it or how you fixed it... I've not ever replaced one so I don't know the details, but if you go to a local hardware store #8 steel is going to be the highest quality fasteners.

 

I had to do an internet search on "garnish" to understand what part of the car you were referring to... Perhaps others with more experience working on that part of the car would chime in if they knew what "garnish" was... According to what Google told me it's the pic below, is that correct?

 

I have seen a couple of those falling off on Prius around town, but never noticed and problems with all the Prius I've worked on...

 

I'm a bit at a loss about the bolts. I've seen plenty of these pieces after failure, and it's never been a fastener failure. Not sure why an upgrade is needed. It's always the plastic that breaks.

They're not exactly a standard bolt/fastener. Square headed so they can't spin in the housing while the nut is loosened or tightened.

 

Have you checked or replaced the liftgate/hatch struts lately?

 

A Toyota dealer should be able to sell you the correct nuts (90179-05102) and rubber washers (90562-04007); you need four of each. The bolts are not sold separately from the garnish sub-assembly. See catalog Figure 75-04, Rear Moulding.

 

The thread size of those studs (OEM anyway) is M5 with 0.8mm pitch. The same as the threads on the HV battery modules. The nuts are oversized hex flange nuts with 10mm flat to flat. I have a box of 500 and would be happy to send you some if you need them.

I have yet to see any corrosion on any garnish fasteners I've been across. If you're getting something significant, there may be some water leakage issues that need investigating.

 

Hey, are you guys discussing the 4 bolts that connect the liftgate the the car body metal frame?

I bought 5-mm x 0.8 Stainless Steel Hex Nut from a franchise hardware store and they look really small. And the one bolt I got (I misplaced the other one or two) is a lot bigger.

 

Yes, we're talking about the same fastener. Although they are the same thread size and pitch, the garnish uses an oversized 10mm hex, where a typical nut for that thread uses an 8mm hex head. Do you need some of the larger size nuts?

 

Yes.

Also, you were right about the thread and pitch.

But the nuts I got from the hardware store were super small. I couldn't tell the size from the website. But they were no bigger than M&M candies.

*Edit: I'm anxious to put back my handle. I took off interior panel.

Right now, I'm looking at serrated flange nuts from your friendly neighborhood Amazon.

 

Does this spec look right?

 

The ones I purchased and later returned were smaller than the ones I had taken off from the car. I was expecting the nut height and nut width to be much bigger.

 

The one shown in post 17 is the small one. The width across the flats is 8mm, which is also the size socket that will fit it. You need 10mm across the flats. If you PM me an address, I'll send you some.