CK5
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Rebuild door hinges or just get new ones?
- Thread starter CK5
- Start date
ekajkrats
1/2 ton status
Rebuilding the old ones was a pain and I would say the pins aren't ideal (I used dormans) and would much rather get new if they were a good enough match and I were to do it over gain (I am not sure one way or the other). The cost savings wasn't enough and not sure staying with the original hinges was a benefit for the time it took me to rebuild.
I just got all new ones from LMC. They worked out just fine.
Steve-O,
I believe the complaint about the 1st Gen hinges is that they aren't designed to be "rebuilt" with new bronze bushings. They are just a throwaway / replace item.
For my own build, I will probably see if a local machinist could machine them to accept a set of bronze bushings and new center pin. It would be VERY cool if the center pin could be dropped into place and removed easily.... that would allow for easy swapping of regular full-size doors to tube doors just by popping out a couple of pins. Much simpler than removing the entire hinge, and you'd never have to worry about re-aligning the door each time you bolted it back on.
-G
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
It can be very difficult to remove the pins from the stock hinges. I tried pressing mine out and it bent the hinge frame before it came out. Might try to remove yours and see if you end up in the same boat. I ended up with LMC hinges and they are ok, but nothing like more modern vehicle hinges.
I had a theory about that. To the point where I got a spare set of hinges and made quick-release pins for them.
In practice, however, waggling a surprisingly heavy door about, even when semi-carefully mounted on an engine stand, is nearly impossible. It was downright impossible to get the stupid pins to line up. Gave up after a coupla hours, still have my tube doors on.
If you had fiberglass doors and/or two helpers, maybe ... but it's just too tight a fit with too close tolerances for the pins to line up.
-- A
Maybe we have to look at the Jeep world (again) for a more workable solution?
The Jeep door hinge is more of a "drop down" pin arrangement, so as long as you can get it close the weight of the door helps pull the pins down into the hinge and line things up.
My doors are going to be substantially lighter than most, given that the glass, regulators and wing windows are removed, and they were shortened by about 3" in height. Still not "light" but with a little help, I bet I could wrestle them on or off...
-G
Makes me wonder if my hinges aren't original. The pins took som persuasion but once out I had plenty of room for the bronze bushings. The hinges appeared to have nylon bushings before. It was an entire day projectSteve-O,
I believe the complaint about the 1st Gen hinges is that they aren't designed to be "rebuilt" with new bronze bushings. They are just a throwaway / replace item.
For my own build, I will probably see if a local machinist could machine them to accept a set of bronze bushings and new center pin. It would be VERY cool if the center pin could be dropped into place and removed easily.... that would allow for easy swapping of regular full-size doors to tube doors just by popping out a couple of pins. Much simpler than removing the entire hinge, and you'd never have to worry about re-aligning the door each time you bolted it back on.
-G
CK5
Looking at doing the same on my '79. Where did you get your pin and bushing kit?
Looking at doing the same on my '79. Where did you get your pin and bushing kit?
I think I got mine from GMCPauls but they only sell first gen stuff. You could try brotherstrucks.com
A local Autozone has them, something like $6, the hinge assy was around $50, so price-wise the pins look like a good way to go. I did come across a youtube video where a guy uses a 5/16" bolt, washers and nut to press the new bushing into the hinge. Looked like a cleaner way to press them in without risk of shattering them while tapping them in with a sledge.
Well, I was able to get the driver's door done this afternoon. It really wasn't that bad of a job. It probably took longer to get the parts and get prepped than it took to get the job done (that's the way it usually goes, eh?).
Orielly's only had one set, so I had to find another one which Advance Auto had.
I had to remove the door since I wasn't able to drive the pins out and I didn't have enough clearance to cut the pins with the door on. Once the door was off I used a cut-off wheel to cut the pins and drive them out. The bushings went in pretty easy with a C-clamp. The original bushings were nylon, so from what I gather, these were the factory hinges. Once the pins were seated, the door was hung and adjusted. The hinge spring was broken, I couldn't find one close, so I didn't bother replacing it.
Over all, pretty simple job... probably should have only taken a couple hours.
Orielly's only had one set, so I had to find another one which Advance Auto had.
I had to remove the door since I wasn't able to drive the pins out and I didn't have enough clearance to cut the pins with the door on. Once the door was off I used a cut-off wheel to cut the pins and drive them out. The bushings went in pretty easy with a C-clamp. The original bushings were nylon, so from what I gather, these were the factory hinges. Once the pins were seated, the door was hung and adjusted. The hinge spring was broken, I couldn't find one close, so I didn't bother replacing it.
Over all, pretty simple job... probably should have only taken a couple hours.
I got mine at The Truck Shop. I get pretty much everything from them. Google (or whatever) 'The Truck Shop Orange.' It's in Orange, CA (LA area). Website is not the best, but the prices and quality are outstanding.
