FD Civic boot hinge garnish removal

[stevo1210]

I've got a 2010 Civic FD that has these two black hinge cover plastic things. The right one has no issues but the left one has caused me grief since day one of owning the car.

I've been through 2 boot seals already because it kept rubbing against the weatherstrip upon opening and closing the boot. Ripped two of them already under warranty. 3rd one I have now is starting to have graze marks! :O

Upon further investigation today, the sheet metal in the top left and right corners of the boot are slightly different... the left being a bit smaller than the right (factory fault). It's a one owner car, being me the 1st owner and I haven't crashed it etc. Not sure if I am a one off or has anyone else here got the same issue?


Now if I remove these two plastic hinge covers (but leave the insulator there), will any dramas be caused? water leaks etc? This is the first time I have "touched" anything on the car... or played "engineer"... nervous as hell!

I am aware the '06 Civic VTI did not come with either hinge cover garnishes OR insulator, but '06 FD VTIL and SPORT had the insulator but no garnish. '07 onwards, they all got it...

Here's a picture to complete (and compare) what I am talking about.

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[Shimian]

is it just making noise or you can actually see it rub? a quick solution would be to just sand it back so it doesn't rub.

[stevo1210]

is it just making noise or you can actually see it rub? a quick solution would be to just sand it back so it doesn't rub.

I can see it rub. But thanks for the tip, I'll get the bench grinder out and file it down a few mm. :)