Door hinge replacement
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 81
From: Finger Lakes Region, New York
Door hinge replacement
I am in the process of replacing my driver side door hinges. I was able to replace the lower hinge with no problem but when I got to the top the 3 bolts that went to the door would just spin and spin and not back out away from the door like the lower "hinge to door" bolts did. Is there a plate or something that sits on the inside of the door that the bolts thread into that is not actually attached to the door? The bolts just spin when loosening but you can tighten them back up if you reverse direction. It seems like the bolt it not backing out like its stripped but all the other bolts look fine and it wasn't a massive pain to loosen the bolt originally so I don't feel like its stripped or has a stripped section of the bolt. Any ideas?
I feel like I remember reading somewhere that there was a plate on the inside of the door that had to be held in position but it seems stupid that the top bracket inside the door would be loose and the bottom would be attached to the door.
The 2 "rollers" are not hitting the "S" spring piece so the door does not stay open and the lower hinge was worn badly so I just wanted to replace both.
I feel like I remember reading somewhere that there was a plate on the inside of the door that had to be held in position but it seems stupid that the top bracket inside the door would be loose and the bottom would be attached to the door.
The 2 "rollers" are not hitting the "S" spring piece so the door does not stay open and the lower hinge was worn badly so I just wanted to replace both.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
I looked at a door here (best I could) and it's bonded/fixed to the door frame like you mention the lower being. There are no lock plates in SPO publications like the sheet-metal doors that are caged and float. Door is in a corner stored and from six feet through the window opening that is what I observed. Lot's to move to get closer.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
On suv's the hinge was bolted then welded. On vettes I believe it was bolted and bonded. Try using a wedge while unbolting to help the bolt out. Why don't you just change the pins and springs?
Last edited by antfarmer2; May 10, 2016 at 10:53 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 81
From: Finger Lakes Region, New York
The lower hinge was worn away due to the PO not replacing the bushings ever. Also the upper pin is not the problem, its the "S" spring, the 2 little bump rollers won't hit it to keep the door open. The little rollers are worn down that there is so much play they won't contact the "S" spring.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 81
From: Finger Lakes Region, New York
