So, I finally got around to fixing the latch in my arm rest! After years of twisty ties and sticky Velcro, this truck finally has a functioning arm rest console! Judging from the poor design of the latch I figured that I wasn't alone, I searched on here and found a thread where a guy had replaced his entire hood and bent some metal to form a latch, which got me thinking.

So, I took a metal piece that covers a PCI slot on the back of a computer when there isn't a card in the slot, bent it around a lot, broke excess off and Dremmeled the sides down to fit into the hole to latch. Then I put a predrill hole in the plastic backing on the armrest hood and in the metal latch. I wedged the latch in and took a small screw, used to hold computer cases on, to hold it in. Works just fine! One of the most imaginative mods out there. I think only 93-97's have this kind of armrest, but for those 3rd gens out there, this is for you.

Sorry, the pictures are crummy, but my camera didn't seem to want to focus, but you can get the idea. You may think I am crazy, but that's okay... I just really wanted a working arm rest.

 

good idea, i used super epoxy on mine in my 98

 

Nice Idea! My trucks been missing the console ever since we got it, I finaly got one a month ago, and the latch has broken 3 or 4 times already, its covered in jb weld now,
I bet that stays shut pretty good.

 

Cool. Looks cleaner than my magnet setup.

 

Yea, it stays nice and tight. I'm pretty proud of my metal latch, I've been showing it off to all my friends. It's really nice having a coin holder and the extra storage for my tape deck adapter and stuff. :D The only thing is that you have to press the button in again, instead of just pressing the latch into the hole, for it to latch. But, that was the flaw with the plastic latch, it put too much pressure on it and eventually just breaks off. I guess they assume most people that would buy a truck would either not care or think of some way to fix it.

I didn't even think of magnets. 0.o That's pretty slick.

Just leaving it shut, eh? I really like having an arm rest with the way the steering wheels are in Rangers.