Random thoughts on door work (pics)
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 956
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From: McDonough Georgia
Random thoughts on door work (pics)
I had been putting off replacing the passenger side window motor.
Got a good deal from Wilcox on some parts a while back and decided this weekend was it.
While I was at it, replaced the door lock motor, handle, hinge pins and bushings as well.
I did all my research and know how to do the jobs, so that wasn't an issue.
But if you are like me, nothing ever goes according to plan.
There are some guys who just open the new parts box from UPS, the new parts leap out, do a little dance on the garage floor and then hop into place. All you have to do is snug down the nuts.
That's not me.
A couple of tips on the door hinges. Absolutely remove the bolts from the door on the hinges and slide the door back. The door does balance nice and easy on jack stands. I used a small floor jack to roll the door back and it went nicely.
As for just tapping the pins out. That wasn't going to happen. My sidepipes absolutely prevented getting under the bottom pin unless I removed them.
I found it much much easier to use my dremel and cutting wheels to remove the head of the pins and tap them out from the top. Naturally, on the bottom one there must have been a burr or something because it got totally jammed on the bottom part of the hinge.
My steel rod wouldn't go straight into the bottom from the top so I had to rig this punch to pound it out. Had lots of clearance and the pin eventually fell out after the the big vein on the back of my neck stood up.
Also, the old bushings disintegrate upon removing them, so be real careful putting in the new ones. Gentle tapping.
As for the door handle. This is pretty straightforward. But a couple of ankle biters. The little pin that holds the lever in place has a small detent that fits into a hole. A small screwdriver gently lifting and then pushing back pops it off. Dig it out from the bottom of the door with your hand.
The front nut on the handle comes off easy. The one toward the back of the car requires a little hand as the lock mechanism comes right up to it. When you put your 7/16 open end wrench on it, you may be lucky if you can turn it 1/16th of a inch.
I was lucky on the passenger side as I was able to loosen it, and then turn it with one one finger. Not so on the drivers side. Had to use a wrench the whole way. Took 1/2 and hour on one nut.
Putting in that rear one is really easy with a grand daughter. You hold the handle up enough so she can get the nut started.
Finally, I used stainless allen round heads and locking nuts to replace the rivits in the motor and lock motor. I also used threadlock and washers as I do not want anything coming loose.
Got a good deal from Wilcox on some parts a while back and decided this weekend was it.
While I was at it, replaced the door lock motor, handle, hinge pins and bushings as well.
I did all my research and know how to do the jobs, so that wasn't an issue.
But if you are like me, nothing ever goes according to plan.
There are some guys who just open the new parts box from UPS, the new parts leap out, do a little dance on the garage floor and then hop into place. All you have to do is snug down the nuts.
That's not me.
A couple of tips on the door hinges. Absolutely remove the bolts from the door on the hinges and slide the door back. The door does balance nice and easy on jack stands. I used a small floor jack to roll the door back and it went nicely.
As for just tapping the pins out. That wasn't going to happen. My sidepipes absolutely prevented getting under the bottom pin unless I removed them.
I found it much much easier to use my dremel and cutting wheels to remove the head of the pins and tap them out from the top. Naturally, on the bottom one there must have been a burr or something because it got totally jammed on the bottom part of the hinge.
My steel rod wouldn't go straight into the bottom from the top so I had to rig this punch to pound it out. Had lots of clearance and the pin eventually fell out after the the big vein on the back of my neck stood up.
Also, the old bushings disintegrate upon removing them, so be real careful putting in the new ones. Gentle tapping.
As for the door handle. This is pretty straightforward. But a couple of ankle biters. The little pin that holds the lever in place has a small detent that fits into a hole. A small screwdriver gently lifting and then pushing back pops it off. Dig it out from the bottom of the door with your hand.
The front nut on the handle comes off easy. The one toward the back of the car requires a little hand as the lock mechanism comes right up to it. When you put your 7/16 open end wrench on it, you may be lucky if you can turn it 1/16th of a inch.
I was lucky on the passenger side as I was able to loosen it, and then turn it with one one finger. Not so on the drivers side. Had to use a wrench the whole way. Took 1/2 and hour on one nut.
Putting in that rear one is really easy with a grand daughter. You hold the handle up enough so she can get the nut started.
Finally, I used stainless allen round heads and locking nuts to replace the rivits in the motor and lock motor. I also used threadlock and washers as I do not want anything coming loose.
