door hinges/bushings
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Virginia
Car: 1983 Z28 (RED)
Engine: 305 HO
Transmission: 700R4
door hinges/bushings
HELLO AGAIN:
My drivers door is sagging bad on my 1983 Z28. I read once there is a good replacement that has grease fittings for these hinges. Or is it easier to just to replace the busings???
thanks,
PAT
>>>>>>>
My drivers door is sagging bad on my 1983 Z28. I read once there is a good replacement that has grease fittings for these hinges. Or is it easier to just to replace the busings???
thanks,
PAT
>>>>>>>
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
From: Amarillo, Tx
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 355TPI 380hp
Transmission: Rebuilt 700r w/ Transgo Shift Kit
I'd say the question is not how easy it is, It's what it cost...
Here is the link to the kit with grease fittings.
You'd probably be better off replacing pins and bushings IMO.
Sorry, had to reword it.
Here is the link to the kit with grease fittings.
You'd probably be better off replacing pins and bushings IMO.
Sorry, had to reword it.
Last edited by jgifford; Jun 2, 2003 at 10:01 AM.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,463
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From: Annandale,NJ
i put that kid on my camaro just a few weeks ago, i had to doors off so it made it much easier. We used a 5" High Speed Grinder and ground off the tops of the stock pins and punched them out, punched out the bushing and used 220 grit sand paper to clean the holes and make then nice for the new bushings.....it is not that easy, esp if you still have the door on the car....but there is not free play i my car at all, if i lift on the door i lift the car. 
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, Florida
Car: 88 Iroc-Z
Engine: 355ci
Transmission: WC-T5
Isnt there another way to do it, i mean i love that someone has made kits to fix the doors, but 80$ is alot of money to fix one door.. has anyone else fixed it themselves, and if so what did you go through to do so? Thanks for any info.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
From: Amarillo, Tx
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 355TPI 380hp
Transmission: Rebuilt 700r w/ Transgo Shift Kit
Why not go to the parts house or Autozone, and just get 2 bushings and a pin for each door. I haven't checked yet, but surely the price has to be a lot better than that.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,767
Likes: 2
From: Vereinigten Staaten
Car: Take
Engine: Your
Transmission: Pick
I copied and pasted my reply to a similar topic on chevytalk here:
Go to ebay.com and do a search for "GM door spring tool" I usually see cheap ones go for about $10, and will pay for itself the first time you use it.
Also, here are some tips from a tech that does this alot:
First, get some good quality masking tape and tape the front edge of the door and the rear edge of the fender. This will reduce the chance of chipped paint while removing and re-insalling the door.
Get new bushings and pins
To knock out the old pins, you can use a punch and tap them out. For pins that you can't get a punch on the end, you can grab the center of the pin with Vice-Grips and tap on the vice grips to remove the pin.
To install the new bushings, MAKE SURE you put the bushings in the same direcction they came out! It does matter!
BE VERY CAREFUL with the new bushings. They are very brittle. To install, I use a socket, wood paint stirrer, and channel locks. If the bushing intalls from the bottom up, I put the socket on top of the hinge, and put the bushing to the hole, then put the wood stirrer under it and sandwich it all together with the channel locks. The socket will allow the top of the bushing to protrude through the top of the hole w/o interference, the wood stirrer will allow you to put pressure on the bushing w/o chipping it and the channel locks will let you press the bushing it. You DO NOT want to beat on it! If the bushing installs from the top down, just invert the order. Put the socket under the hole and the bushing and wood up top. It has worked PERFECTLY for me every time!
Also, here are some tips from a tech that does this alot:
First, get some good quality masking tape and tape the front edge of the door and the rear edge of the fender. This will reduce the chance of chipped paint while removing and re-insalling the door.
Get new bushings and pins
To knock out the old pins, you can use a punch and tap them out. For pins that you can't get a punch on the end, you can grab the center of the pin with Vice-Grips and tap on the vice grips to remove the pin.
To install the new bushings, MAKE SURE you put the bushings in the same direcction they came out! It does matter!
BE VERY CAREFUL with the new bushings. They are very brittle. To install, I use a socket, wood paint stirrer, and channel locks. If the bushing intalls from the bottom up, I put the socket on top of the hinge, and put the bushing to the hole, then put the wood stirrer under it and sandwich it all together with the channel locks. The socket will allow the top of the bushing to protrude through the top of the hole w/o interference, the wood stirrer will allow you to put pressure on the bushing w/o chipping it and the channel locks will let you press the bushing it. You DO NOT want to beat on it! If the bushing installs from the top down, just invert the order. Put the socket under the hole and the bushing and wood up top. It has worked PERFECTLY for me every time!
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Virginia
Car: 1983 Z28 (RED)
Engine: 305 HO
Transmission: 700R4
Thanks for all the info here!!!
I'll probably take "GMTECH's" instructions and go buy that spring tool and put OEM bushings back in and keep some of my cash and use it for something else on the car.
PAT
I'll probably take "GMTECH's" instructions and go buy that spring tool and put OEM bushings back in and keep some of my cash and use it for something else on the car.
PAT
Supreme Member
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,515
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From: Midlothian,VA. 23112-6108
Car: 1982 Z-28
Engine: 5.0 w/ Holly carb
Transmission: TH-700R4
Originally posted by GMTech
I copied and pasted my reply to a similar topic on chevytalk here:
I copied and pasted my reply to a similar topic on chevytalk here:
I believe the bushings (or hinge pins) for the UPPER door hinge are not available from GM. Only a complete hinge assy is available from them.
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Car: 87 T/A
Engine: LM1 350
Transmission: 700 R4
I just did my drivers side lower door hinge yesterday. You " DON'T" need the door spring tool !! Here is a quick tip for you guys/gals......... To get the spring back on, just fully compress the spring in a bench vise, leaving enough room to slip a length of heavy gaged wire through the inner side from end to end. Then twist the wire until it is tight. Slowly unclamp the vice and flip the spring 180 degrees and do the same on that side. Leave about 6-8 inches at the end of the twisted part so you can guide the spring where you want it placed in the door....then cut the wire with a pair of wire cutters and pull the wire out. The spring will expand and catch in its place. There you have it....spring in place and no money spent on tools !!!! Did it yesterday with out a hitch !!! Hope this helps out.
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