Rebuild door hinges or new???
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 46
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From: Chesterfield VA
Rebuild door hinges or new???
Now that I've got the doors off, I can feel play in both hinges. Anyone had success with replacing the hinge pins or is it best to buy new hinges??
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Deep East Texas
Re: Rebuild door hinges or new??? (71RedCoupe)
I got one bad set... I was gonna replace the hinge pins and bushings on it this weekend, but something else came up... Anyway, I think new pins and bushings will do it without replacing the whole hinge.
Added w/ edit: The way to tell if your bushings are shot is to barely open the door and pull up on the end of the door. If you feel a lot of movement, the bushings are shot. If you open the door all the way and pull on it you may not feel any movement, even if it needs new bushings.
[Modified by Mack76, 11:20 AM 11/5/2001]
Added w/ edit: The way to tell if your bushings are shot is to barely open the door and pull up on the end of the door. If you feel a lot of movement, the bushings are shot. If you open the door all the way and pull on it you may not feel any movement, even if it needs new bushings.
[Modified by Mack76, 11:20 AM 11/5/2001]
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Rebuild door hinges or new??? (71RedCoupe)
Unless you find cracks or breaks in the hinges, I would keep the originals and replace the bushings and pins. If the doors will not stay open, the S springs need to be replaced.
:)
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Rebuild door hinges or new??? (71RedCoupe)
They're easy to rebuild. My son and I made an afternoon project out of rebuilding 4 GM door hinges. The pins and bushings are available from many sources, such as any auto body hardware supply store. It helps to have access to a welder so you can tack weld the pins in place (instead of the factory style crimped material, which is difficult to duplicate in your garage). The new pins and bushings will make a huge difference in the way your doors feel.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 46
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From: Chesterfield VA
Re: Rebuild door hinges or new??? (71RedCoupe)
Thanks for the tips, I could feel play in the doors when just barely open while they were on the car. I was surprised to be able to feel as much play off the car. It looks like the project of the week.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,107
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From: Lancaster PA
Re: Rebuild door hinges or new??? (71RedCoupe)
Be very careful with the top pin while tapping it out. On a lot of cars they come dangerously close to the fender. If yours does, you may have to grind some of the head flange off with a Dremel tool or a file. Be sure to support the door with a well padded floor jack. It isn't a very hard job. Just be patient and don't damage your paint. Good Luck, Craig
