Replacing lower door pins (help!)
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 45
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From: Reading, PA
Car: 86' Camaro
Engine: 2.8L V6
Transmission: 700R4
Replacing lower door pins (help!)
I'm trying to replace my lower door pins and bushings but I cant seem to get the pins out. Does anyone have any pointers on how to replace them? I have extra help to hold the door level, wiggle ect. I've tried a crowbar on them, tried banging them out from the bottom and notta. Only got them to move a tiny bit and then nothing.
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Stamford, New York
Car: 80 SE/TTA;88 T/A GTA;86 T/A
Engine: 4.9L Turbo; LT1; empty
Transmission: TH350; T56; empty
Axle/Gears: 3:23 disk; 4:10 disk ; 3.42 disk
Re: Replacing lower door pins (help!)
Heat, not pretty for paint, but very functional.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Cary, North Carolina
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: Replacing lower door pins (help!)
Here's a email I got from Lon at www.top-downsolutions.com (a TGO sponsor that sells hinge parts) explaining the process:
Yes you can do it without taking the door off, but you must remove the a-pillar half of the lower hinge. First remove the door detent spring. Then you'll need to support the bottom of the door with a jack, then remove the lower door hinge pin. Then remove the kick panel inside the car to access two of the 3 bolts holding on that half of the hinge. The third hinge bolt is accessed from the open door with a wrench. Once you have the door hinge off, place it in a HUGE bench vise. Grind off the head of the pin above the detent roller. At this point remove the roller. Two methods to remove the detent pin from this point. If you have a welder, then you can make the job easier by grinding into the column that the pin is pressed into using a die grinder or dremel tool and a metal cutting fiber-reinforced metal cutting blade. Cut a groove down just to the detent pin. This relieves the pressure on the pin making it easier to remove it. Even if you can't grind the slot and weld it later, the next step is the same. Put the remains of the door detent pin in a bench vise leaving enough room to pry out the pin. You'll be prying between the shoulder of the larger column that the pin is pressed into and the bench vise. If you ground a slot you'll need to weld that slot back up at this point. Now put the roller on the column and the new pin. Make sure the roller is mounted right-side up (center sticks out of the roller). My bench vise is huge, so I can use it too press the detent roller pin into the column. Make sure you don't press it too far or the roller will be impinged. Caution, it your vise is too small you'll break it trying to use it to press in the pin. You should take it to a shop and have them press it in with a hydraulic press for a few bucks.
Lon
Top-Down Solutions
(626)369-0040
Please visit us on the web
www.Top-DownSolutions.com
Yes you can do it without taking the door off, but you must remove the a-pillar half of the lower hinge. First remove the door detent spring. Then you'll need to support the bottom of the door with a jack, then remove the lower door hinge pin. Then remove the kick panel inside the car to access two of the 3 bolts holding on that half of the hinge. The third hinge bolt is accessed from the open door with a wrench. Once you have the door hinge off, place it in a HUGE bench vise. Grind off the head of the pin above the detent roller. At this point remove the roller. Two methods to remove the detent pin from this point. If you have a welder, then you can make the job easier by grinding into the column that the pin is pressed into using a die grinder or dremel tool and a metal cutting fiber-reinforced metal cutting blade. Cut a groove down just to the detent pin. This relieves the pressure on the pin making it easier to remove it. Even if you can't grind the slot and weld it later, the next step is the same. Put the remains of the door detent pin in a bench vise leaving enough room to pry out the pin. You'll be prying between the shoulder of the larger column that the pin is pressed into and the bench vise. If you ground a slot you'll need to weld that slot back up at this point. Now put the roller on the column and the new pin. Make sure the roller is mounted right-side up (center sticks out of the roller). My bench vise is huge, so I can use it too press the detent roller pin into the column. Make sure you don't press it too far or the roller will be impinged. Caution, it your vise is too small you'll break it trying to use it to press in the pin. You should take it to a shop and have them press it in with a hydraulic press for a few bucks.
Lon
Top-Down Solutions
(626)369-0040
Please visit us on the web
www.Top-DownSolutions.com
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