VW Polo boot repair

[Leo Stainton]

Hi everyone.
I'm new here so bare with me.

My mum has a 2004 VW Polo. The boot strut ball has fallen out and obviously can't access it due to the body shape.
I've done a bit of research and tested a few different methods on how to obviously fit something to the car so the ball pin can fit in to it but no luck.

I've seen someone mention a rivnut and after watching a few videos on YouTube, it seems like it'll be the best way.

Here's the question.
The hole in the car is 12mm, but the ball pin is only 8mm. What size rivnut would I need to be able to fit in the car but also capable to take the ball pin?

Many thanks

 

[DIYspanner]

Is this YT video any use?

 

[Burnerman]

I have fitted these before, and they were an 8mm thread with a captive nut.....has the nut disappeared?
John

 

[Leo Stainton]

Cool, so would that be an m8 rivnut I'd need then?

Yeah apparently so. No idea how haha

Leo

 

[Leo Stainton]

The YouTube video is helpful, but unfortunately the but the arm clips on to is obviously bolted to the car. It's that bit I'm having the issue with

 

[Burnerman]

I bought replacement ball pins from GSF, and was surprised how available they were.
I guess the original nut was spot welded on, the weld failed and the nut has disappeared into the double skinned boot lid somewhere.
An 8mm rivnut is what you need but I’d definitely practice fitting them first, using some scrap steel, a vice and a bolt to allow the nut to compress. Sometimes they are really tough!
John

 

[Leo Stainton]

Yeah that sounds exactly like what's happened on my Mum's one.
Thanks for your advice. There's a scrappy not too far from me so I'll see what I can find there to practice on!

Leo

 

[Burnerman]

I should have said, these rivnuts have a hexagonal stem which passes through the hole provided.....you may need a thin washer to prevent the rivnut falling through.
No doubt, plenty of hints on youtube about these things.
John

 

[Leo Stainton]

Ah! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Mottie]

Fitting one rivnut if you've never done one before is not easy and unless you get it absolutely right, the same will happen. Save yourself the heartache, look around and get a secondhand tailgate in the same colour as yours.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MK4-VOLK...052041&hash=item1f04e012f7:g:e58AAOSwpdJdvKsN

 

[DIYspanner]

Any chance of a photo of the troublesome area please?