Drivers door spring replacement
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 787
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
It is doable, by one person, without a bent screwdriver. I did both of mine about 5 years ago. I don't remember the details but I followed the instructions. A key thing was getting the spring roughly in place and tapping it either up or down with a hammer to get to its final position.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 50
From: Prosper TX
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
This is from a post I did earlier this year on the Springs.... It's really not that hard of a job if you take your time.
Ok, here we go... Today I went out to the shop, had them blast this old hinge and paint it a pretty Jade Green... I figured it would show the spring installation better...
When you install the spring in the hinge.. you want to make sure that A is on top side... and you want to make sure you install it in to slot B. When you do this you'll actually have A a bit further down in the hinge then it will be when you have it installed, but this how it is done to get the spring installed properly!
Once you have the spring in this position, install the door hinge tool, or a large bent pry bar and twist the spring until the bottom edge can fall in to D. When you have the spring twisted to this point you'll see won't see it but it has to fall in to the pocket D! Simply tap upward on the spring at point C just a tiny bit and the spring lock in at the top of the hinge and lock in at the bottom in pocket D. This is what holds the spring in the twisted position and if it's not in the pocket it will interfere with the rollers.
Just remember, the side marked A and B is the top side, and the one marked C is the lower... This should help.. Just make sure when you have the spring installed that the lower end of the S is up inside the pocket D or the spring will not stay loaded and in place. It is critical that you make sure you have this locked in andI have seen a newly installed spring come through a customers door! This was from a mechanic not getting it tucked (tapped) up in the lip pocket D. In this instance the spring fell outward and when the customer shut the door the spring pushed through the end of it..
Hope this helps you.
Willcox
And here is the marketed tool for doing this... and yes.. it is something you can make..
Ok, here we go... Today I went out to the shop, had them blast this old hinge and paint it a pretty Jade Green... I figured it would show the spring installation better...
When you install the spring in the hinge.. you want to make sure that A is on top side... and you want to make sure you install it in to slot B. When you do this you'll actually have A a bit further down in the hinge then it will be when you have it installed, but this how it is done to get the spring installed properly!
Once you have the spring in this position, install the door hinge tool, or a large bent pry bar and twist the spring until the bottom edge can fall in to D. When you have the spring twisted to this point you'll see won't see it but it has to fall in to the pocket D! Simply tap upward on the spring at point C just a tiny bit and the spring lock in at the top of the hinge and lock in at the bottom in pocket D. This is what holds the spring in the twisted position and if it's not in the pocket it will interfere with the rollers.
Just remember, the side marked A and B is the top side, and the one marked C is the lower... This should help.. Just make sure when you have the spring installed that the lower end of the S is up inside the pocket D or the spring will not stay loaded and in place. It is critical that you make sure you have this locked in andI have seen a newly installed spring come through a customers door! This was from a mechanic not getting it tucked (tapped) up in the lip pocket D. In this instance the spring fell outward and when the customer shut the door the spring pushed through the end of it..
Hope this helps you.
Willcox
And here is the marketed tool for doing this... and yes.. it is something you can make..
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
[QUOTE=Willcox Corvette;1578682062]
Once you have the spring in this position, install the door hinge tool, or a large bent pry bar and twist the spring until the bottom edge can fall in to D. When you have the spring twisted to this point you'll see won't see it but it has to fall in to the pocket D! Simply tap upward on the spring at point C just a tiny bit and the spring lock in at the top of the hinge and lock in at the bottom in pocket D. This is what holds the spring in the twisted position and if it's not in the pocket it will interfere with the rollers.
I was never good at those brain teaser bar puzzles made out of metal. So I need to hold the spring in position by prying against the door jam, and then tap on the bottom of the spring with a hammer at the same time, and it will pop in ?
Once you have the spring in this position, install the door hinge tool, or a large bent pry bar and twist the spring until the bottom edge can fall in to D. When you have the spring twisted to this point you'll see won't see it but it has to fall in to the pocket D! Simply tap upward on the spring at point C just a tiny bit and the spring lock in at the top of the hinge and lock in at the bottom in pocket D. This is what holds the spring in the twisted position and if it's not in the pocket it will interfere with the rollers.
I was never good at those brain teaser bar puzzles made out of metal. So I need to hold the spring in position by prying against the door jam, and then tap on the bottom of the spring with a hammer at the same time, and it will pop in ?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
[QUOTE=boltnut;1578683672]
Once you have the spring in this position, install the door hinge tool, or a large bent pry bar and twist the spring until the bottom edge can fall in to D. When you have the spring twisted to this point you'll see won't see it but it has to fall in to the pocket D! Simply tap upward on the spring at point C just a tiny bit and the spring lock in at the top of the hinge and lock in at the bottom in pocket D. This is what holds the spring in the twisted position and if it's not in the pocket it will interfere with the rollers.
I was never good at those brain teaser bar puzzles made out of metal. So I need to hold the spring in position by prying against the door jam, and then tap on the bottom of the spring with a hammer at the same time, and it will pop in ?
I got mine in Sunday. I followed Wilcoxes description and have the tool. But no go , I was getting irritated. Then I reached in and pulled on the bottom of the spring and inserted the tool INTO the spring not against the door or frame, and the angle of the tool allows you to twist the spring inward till it pops into the lower slot. Without pulling the spring a little at the bottom I never would have got it to pop into the lower slot. Then...I banged and banged up on it and it would not go up and snap into place, until again I stuck a finger in the bottom and aligned the bottom end with the slot and it tapped right into place and locked right in. The write up is good, but you need to be aware that it all must line before the spring twisting or tapping will work.
Once you have the spring in this position, install the door hinge tool, or a large bent pry bar and twist the spring until the bottom edge can fall in to D. When you have the spring twisted to this point you'll see won't see it but it has to fall in to the pocket D! Simply tap upward on the spring at point C just a tiny bit and the spring lock in at the top of the hinge and lock in at the bottom in pocket D. This is what holds the spring in the twisted position and if it's not in the pocket it will interfere with the rollers.
I was never good at those brain teaser bar puzzles made out of metal. So I need to hold the spring in position by prying against the door jam, and then tap on the bottom of the spring with a hammer at the same time, and it will pop in ?
