Door Hinge Pins and Bushings

[enkeivette]

Looking at the hinges, I'm not sure how they come out. It looks like they unbolt from inside and the dash needs to be removed.

So can I replace one pin at a time without removing the door? Or how do I take the door off?

 

[MYBAD79]

I have a new pin and bushing kit sitting on the shelf for a few months now, I'll install it this winter. I was told you can do one pin at a time. Replace the bushings, that's the part that wears, the pins are most likely fine.

 

[gkz]

Looking at the hinges, I'm not sure how they come out. It looks like they unbolt from inside and the dash needs to be removed.

So can I replace one pin at a time without removing the door? Or how do I take the door off?

I removed my hinges to do this; it was easy.

My friend did his one at a time while they were in the car--no more sagging. He has a '79 and had to remove kick panels.

 

[enkeivette]

So how do the pins come out? Can you tap them out with a hammer? I don't see any retaining hardware on them.

 

[Belgian1979vette]

You can tap them out. Look at the holes in the hinges. Sometimes when the bushings are gone, the hole gets larger, because the pins then turn metal on metal.

 

[gkz]

They come out the top (hammer + punch); there's no cotter pins, e-clips, etc--they're held in by knurled ridges in the tops of the pins that wedge in the hinge. Don't install the bushings upside down like my car had...

 

[SMYDA]

NOTE:

This needs to be a 2 man job.
Use a floor jack (covered with some form of cushion) to support the door.
Remove BOTH pins and set the door back.....It makes things much easier
than trying to do one at a time. If the car has already been painted
tape the back edge of the fender and front of the door so they don't get
scratched in the process.

JMHO.......I would replace the pins as well, when replacing bushings.
Also installing a new Stricker Pin at the same time would not be a bad idea.

 

[Belgian1979vette]

NOTE:

This needs to be a 2 man job.
Use a floor jack (covered with some form of cushion) to support the door.
Remove BOTH pins and set the door back.....It makes things much easier
than trying to do one at a time. If the car has already been painted
tape the back edge of the fender and front of the door so they don't get
scratched in the process.

JMHO.......I would replace the pins as well, when replacing bushings.
Also installing a new Stricker Pin at the same time would not be a bad idea.

Why the striker smyda ?

 

[SMYDA]

When the pins start wearing the door starts sagging which results in the
door dragging on the Stricker causing it to wear prematurely. Left
unattended long enough and you will end up trashing the Latch as well.

Door Strickers are not expensive and easy to replace .... a Latch may
end up being a little pricey and a PITA to swap out.

 

[Dirtbuster1]

Be carefull removing the top pin. You can damage the fender getting it out. If you do not remove your hinges, you will need to grind off part of the top of the pin to reinstall. I found removing the hinge was the safest way to remove the door. I think I used 2 jack stands with towels for removal & installation. Like SYMDA said, tape off the doors & fenders to prevent any damage.

 

[Belgian1979vette]

When the pins start wearing the door starts sagging which results in the
door dragging on the Stricker causing it to wear prematurely. Left
unattended long enough and you will end up trashing the Latch as well.

Door Strickers are not expensive and easy to replace .... a Latch may
end up being a little pricey and a PITA to swap out.

:1st: good advice. I already replaced the pins and bushings, the latchmechanisme, but not the striker.