How to replace the seat on a Caroma toilet and realign the hinge pins

A Caroma toilet is a top of the range toilet.

Like everything, however, things can sometimes happen to prevent it from operating effectively. If for some reason the seat has been damaged, it's not the most comfortable of experiences. You have less stabilty when seated, and this can cause discomfort, and even be a safety risk.

The good news is you don't have to replace the toilet. Even if you consider yourself the most basic of DIYers, you should be able to change the seat without too much fuss. All you need to do is follow some simple steps.

With this handy guide we'll show you how to replace the seat and realign the hinge pins in case they've become loose over time.

Taking the old Caroma toilet seat off

Once you've purchased the replacement seat, the first step is to remove the broken one. You'll need a few tools to do this.

• Gloves
• Mask
• Goggles
• Disinfectant spray
• Fistful of toilet paper
• Old towel
• Star (or 6 pointed) screwdriver

Spread the towel beside you on the floor and place the disinfectant, toilet paper and screwdriver on it within arms reach.

With your gloves, mask and goggles on, look for two quick release buttons on the inner centre of the seat underside. When you find them, push them in, and lift the seat upward to remove it from the mounting pins. Place it somewhere out of the way.

Next, we're going to realign and tighten the hinge pins.

Lift up the hinge cover plates off the hinges and place them on the towel. With a phillips head screwdriver, loosen the bolts of the pins ever so slightly, just enough so they'll only just be able to move when you realign them. Be careful not too loosen them too much or they won't stay in place on their own.

Realigning the hinge pins

With the seat and hinge cover plates off, it's your chance to clean it. Grab the disinfectant and spray it over any gunk that may have built up on the rim where it's hard to clean. Let it sit for a few minutes, then with the toilet paper, wipe it all clean and drop the toilet paper in the bowl.

Next, we're going to put the hinges into their correct position. To do this, we need to realign them.

Grab your new toilet seat and place it over the hinge pins into the holes in the bottom of the seat and let it click into place. Adjust the seat gently so it is sitting in the correct position over the bowl. This action will move the hinge pins into the correct position.

Once you're sure the sides and front of the seat are correctly positioned, carefully remove the seat the same way you removed it the first time without changing the new position of the hinge pins. With the seat off, tighten the screws on the hinge pins to secure them in their correct position.

The final stages

Once you’ve tightened the hinge pin screws, it's time for your moment of glory. It's important to note, you'll be putting the seat on and taking it off again as part of this process. Now that the hinge pins are tightened and realigned, place the new Caroma toilet seat back on again, let it click in place, and check it is positioned properly and all is working like it should be.

Once you've confirmed that the positioning is correct, you'll need to remove the seat again to put the decorative hinges back on. These simply fit over the the top of the hinge pins and push down snugly in place. Now you’re set to put the seat back on for the final time. Make sure it clicks in place again.

Job done.

Most toilet and cistern repair jobs can be completed succcessfully yourself with the range of toilet spares available, such as the Caroma Profile Toilet Seat White Soft Close available at Plumbing Sales.

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