Replacing Plastic Toilet Seat Hinge Bolts
Yesterday I wrote about the Defective Plastic SoftClose Toilet Seat Bolts on our Toto toilet. Below you can see a photo of the plastic bolts after I removed them from the toilet. The head of the bolts totally deteriorated and fell apart causing the toilet seat to become loose.
I was wondering all day today how I would fix the problem (rig it back together). I was pleasantly surprised when I went the the local hardware store that they actually sell the same style of plastic toilet seat hinge bolts. So I bought a set to replace the defective ones and a spare set to keep at the house. The new bolts look like a different type of plastic so hopefully they will hold up the harsh environment of chemicals.
Installing the new bolts is a piece of cake. Just remove the old one and install the new ones in the bolt holes. The design is such that you put the nut on the bottom below the toilet and use a screw driver on the top. No need for pliers or special tools.
I did a search online tonight and you can buy these Plumb Pak Do it Toilet Seat Hinge Replacement Bolt Sets from Amazon. I think the better solution however is to purchase the Plumb Pak Brass Do it Toilet Seat Bolt Set. I’d recommend having a spare set of these around the house or checking your plastic bolts 
occasionally. The last thing you want is to have the toilet seat break loose when you have friends over!
I have a toto Aquia dual flush it came with top mount bolts. There is a piece of rubber which looks a large bean pod with bumps which you press down into the hole in the toilet. You then take a couple metal bolts which feed through the top of the toilet seat hinge into the rubber female beanpod. I can’t see these deteriorating anytime soon.
I have seen metal toilet seat bolts rust completely in place after 20 years where I had to use a recip saw to cut through and remove the nut but in this case there is no nut. Perhaps the rubber beanpod will deteriorate only time will tell.
The other option for bolts is to use the brass bolts and nuts which though expensive are very corrosion resistant and also stay nice and secure. My experience with the plastic bolts is that they always come loose and tightening may last a year before you can wobble the seat side to side.
The 2nd toto I installed I opted for the Cadet Softclose lid as it was $40 instead of $80. Looks good on the toilet and works just as well, I still used the top mount bolts.
I will certainly go brass next time. The idea of plastic bolts really doesn’t sit well with the structural engineer in me!
Help!
I have a toilet which says only “Standard” on the part where the seat bolts go in. worse, the toilet seat mounting bolts are on 5-3/4 inch centers!!! I mean the entire industry appears to be on 5-1/2 inch.
Is there hope to get a replacement seat w/o having to change the porcelain toilet itself????? (i hope).
Did you ever find a replacement seat? I have the same issue with the bolt spread and would hate to spend money on a complete toilet.
Was this ever resolved. I have this problem with 3 10 year old American standard toilets bought from home depot and their customer service has emailed me that they never made any with these dimensions.
Not that I’m ‘aware with. I would check with a plumbing wholesaler….like F.W. Webb
Hello:) I gave a questuin! When replacing a toilet seat, are metal screws bad to use? Which is better to use, metal or plastic screws?
Brass are the best :)
Hi! I installed an elevated plastic riser under my toilet lid years ago when I had knee surgery. Now the hinge bolts are rusted and have to be cut off and replaced. The problem is that after days of searching in stores and on-line, I can’t locate long enough replacement bolts. They need to be 7 inches long at least.
Our Toto seat movement seems to be from the hinge part itself the screws seem to be tight, 6- 7 years old so not too old do you have a cure for this?
Ron