My sagging door
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Olathe Kansas
My sagging door
The passenger door of my 1980 is strong and sturdy but sags when open, so of course when you close it, it dosen't line up till finally closed. Does that mean the hinges are bent? .....
any suggestions, much appreciated.
any suggestions, much appreciated.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 285
Likes: 1
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Re: My sagging door (dut)
More likely bad pin bushings. Very common on all GM cars (especially '88-98 CK trucks).
My '74 had bad bushings at 45K.
Buddy's '78 has bad bushings at 78K (been bad for quite a while)
My '74 had bad bushings at 45K.
Buddy's '78 has bad bushings at 78K (been bad for quite a while)
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,478
Likes: 3
From: Quincy IL
Re: My sagging door (a454corvette)
this is on my "to do" list this winter if it ever warms up again. my drivers door sags, the door locks don't work right, so i'm going to do both sides(99k). i think the pins and bushing are still available from GM
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Re: My sagging door (dut)
These parts are carried by all GM dealers, at least in my area. And, Advance Auto even has the bushings in the "Help" section of their store. The bushings come in a red package, four each I think. Very easy to do.
Gary
Gary
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: My sagging door (GaryS)
Could you guys outline what you have to do? Mine(78) are bad on both sides, and more than likely will screw the door/window up if I don't get around to fixing it.
-Steve
-Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 29,077
Likes: 0
From: Deep East Texas
Re: My sagging door (Pacin'California)
Open the door a couple of inches... Not all the way open. Try to move the back end of the door up and down. If it moves, then the bushings need to be replaced. If it doesn't, then the door hinges probably need adjusting.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,854
Likes: 3
From: HONOLULU HAWAII
Re: My sagging door (Pacin'California)
I hope someone answers "how to do" question.....Mine have that up and down play in them.......
Where to get the bushings.....and how to replace.......??????????? :confused: Cappy
Where to get the bushings.....and how to replace.......??????????? :confused: Cappy
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,478
Likes: 3
From: Quincy IL
Re: My sagging door (8T1-7T9 BIONIC VETTE)
i'll take a shot on the" how to do" section;( Since i plan on doing this and think i remember the procedure from the past forum discussions) i believe you take off the hinge covers on the door first, note the location and number of shims, then take a floor jack with lots of padding, get it under the bottom edge of the door and remove the door,( it helps to have a friend) giving good access to the hinges and pins. i think the top hinge gives the most problem because the fender "lips" out over the hinge a little bit, limiting access to drive out the old pin and bushing. still waiting for it to warm up a little bit.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
Re: My sagging door (dut)
if it is "strong and sturdy" it may be adjustment...
open the door a little bit and lift up on the far, rear, bottom corner...
if you can lift it up and down like theres play in the hinges...it needs new hinge pins...
if there is no play and it feels tight...it needs adjustment...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DARN! ive gotta learn to read the whole thread before answering! :lol:
you guys had already said what i said! JEEZE!!
[Modified by SIGNGUY, 7:37 AM 2/5/2003]
open the door a little bit and lift up on the far, rear, bottom corner...
if you can lift it up and down like theres play in the hinges...it needs new hinge pins...
if there is no play and it feels tight...it needs adjustment...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DARN! ive gotta learn to read the whole thread before answering! :lol:
you guys had already said what i said! JEEZE!!
[Modified by SIGNGUY, 7:37 AM 2/5/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 29,077
Likes: 0
From: Deep East Texas
Re: My sagging door (Pacin'California)
There may be a better way, but I replaced mine when I took the door off to work on the guts in the door. At the time, somebody suggested this method (Craig?) and it worked for me. I had a couple of guys to help support the door while I was getting it off.
1. Drive the pin out of the bottom hinge.
2. Unbolt the upper hinge from the door, leaving the hinge bolted to the car.
3. Remove the door and now you can replace the bushing and pin in the upper hinge.
4. Bolt the upper hinge back on the door.
5. Replace the bushings and pin in the lower hinge.
If you do it this way, the door will be aligned like it was when you took it apart, and like it was before the bushings wore out. Only a minor amount of realignment should be necessary, if any. If you have to do any realignment of the door, check the window alignment.
One other comment. I vaguely remember something about grinding one side of the head of the pin for the top hinge, so it would clear part of the body going in. I did this 9 months to a year ago and I guess my memory's goin'. :D
Let us know how it works out.
1. Drive the pin out of the bottom hinge.
2. Unbolt the upper hinge from the door, leaving the hinge bolted to the car.
3. Remove the door and now you can replace the bushing and pin in the upper hinge.
4. Bolt the upper hinge back on the door.
5. Replace the bushings and pin in the lower hinge.
If you do it this way, the door will be aligned like it was when you took it apart, and like it was before the bushings wore out. Only a minor amount of realignment should be necessary, if any. If you have to do any realignment of the door, check the window alignment.
One other comment. I vaguely remember something about grinding one side of the head of the pin for the top hinge, so it would clear part of the body going in. I did this 9 months to a year ago and I guess my memory's goin'. :D
Let us know how it works out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 14
From: Lancaster PA
Re: My sagging door (Mack76)
Mack, Your memory is better than you give yourself credit for. The method you describe is exactly the way I have done door removal with the least amount of struggle. Ditto on the grinding of the head of the pin. Craig :cheers:
