headlight hinge pin replacement???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 1
headlight hinge pin replacement???
Has anyone done this? I replaced the bushings but when I put it back together I noticed one of the pins was still rattling around quite a bit allowing the whole assembly to shake. I had thought the pins were part of the casting but apparently they are pressed into the casting and over time the hole in the casting opened up and allows the pin the move a little, just enough to **** me off anyways - the assembly still shakes around when the car is idling! Really makes the car look like a clunker when sitting at a light on cruise night!
I was thinking of pulling the pin, drilling through the casting, and using a .5 inch bolt bolted to the casting. But I am wondering what other folks have done. Replacing the whole casting seems like a very expensive solution to a simple problem.
Thanks
Chris
I was thinking of pulling the pin, drilling through the casting, and using a .5 inch bolt bolted to the casting. But I am wondering what other folks have done. Replacing the whole casting seems like a very expensive solution to a simple problem.
Thanks
Chris
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,124
Likes: 3,927
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: headlight hinge pin replacement??? (71roadster)
Those look like they're shrunk in,trying to press them out would probably break the support. I just rebuilt my headlights and the hinge pins were worn, I used liquid steel to blend them in. Are you sure the hinge bearings aren't worn out? they're just plastic bushings so they may be the problem?
Gary
Gary
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: headlight hinge pin replacement??? (71roadster)
I haven't tried this, but if the casting is worn you might be able to find a machinist to make a new set of pins with a little bigger end for the casting. Then drill out the casting and secure the new hinge pin with a roll pin (After cross-drilling). The pin is not supposed to be loose in the casting, in fact I believe they were cast in place. Other way would be to spring $$$ for new assemblies :eek:
