dwilliamsfaq

For all of you tired of the creaking and popping when opening your door. The cause of this is the roller on the lower hinge. There is a plastic insert inside the roller to kepp from having metal on metal contact. Over time this bushing wears down to nothing and metal grinds on metal. The common fix for this is to replace the body side lower hinge, but at $100 plus per side, most of us can't do it. I have found a better way, and at around $10 per side, more affordable.

Everyone says the lower hinge cannot be rebuilt, but GM sells the parts, and all is listed in the exploded diagram. The two parts are sold separatly, but are only $5 a piece. The parts are the roller w/ the plastic insert, and the retention pin (looks like a thick tack with splines on the bottom). In order to do this you will need to remove the lower hinge from the car, so if the door is sagging it would be a good time to fix that as well.

You will need to beg, borrow, steal, or rent a stationary vise, a 5lb (or bigger) slide hammer, and a B-F-H (Big-Freaking-Hammer) 3-5lb is sufficient, and also it would not hurt to have some penetrating fluid and a propane torch to heat the lower piece (but these are not mandatory).

once you have remove the hinge from the car (three bolts and the hinge pin) secure it firmly in the vise. Next, pry the old roller off if it has not fallen off already. Then, attach the slide hammer to the roller pin shaft (pulling outward). This would be the time to use the penetrating fluid and/or torch (do not heat the pin but the shaft around the pin) to loosen the splines inside the hinge. Now you can commence beating the pin out (this is going to take some time and muscle) with the slide hammer. Once it is removed clean up the remaining part of the hinge and flile off any metal burrs to extent the life of the new roller. To reassemble, slide the new roller onto the new pin and gently insert the splined end into the hole and line up the splines. Once aligned tap the pin into the hole with the hammer until it is good and started. then drive it the rest of the way in.

I hope this will help some of you.

Peace

MurcoRS

Now you post this, right after my "complete door rehab"!!! lol
Do you have part numbers??

dwilliamsfaq

Oops,

I forgot to list the part numbers...


20058035 - roller

20262500 - retainer pin

you will need one of each of the parts per door.

peace

Jekyll & Hyde

Is the retainer pin the same one that the roller resides on top of or is a pin that holds keeps the roller in position? My roller is leaning sideways, but my hinges are fine.

super_kev

iTrader: (4)

The roller sits on the bigger pin (20262500).

Don't you also need the bushing? (#20429500 - thick, or #9721917 - thin, for '82-'84) Because the new factory hinges come with the pin, roller, and bushing.

dwilliamsfaq

The was only written to cure the leaning, popping, and screaching roller on the lower hinge. I felt that others such as "MurcoRS" have posted plenty on the sagging door/bushing replacement topic. This is just a more economical way to fix the roller. The only two parts needed are the pin and the roller. The roller comes with a new plastic bushing in it.

You are not removing the entire tapered shaft just the pin that holds the roller in place. It is three pieces pressed together to make one shaft. I am sorry if I have confused anyone.

I forgot this is the fix for 88-92, I'm not sure about the earlier models.

peace