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Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:25 pm
by garyf
Hi All and Happy New Year

I've noticed I have a lot of play in my Door Hinges, especially the top ones on both the Drivers and Passenger sides.

I see that Alpine West Midlands do a replacement Hinge Pin kit.

Can anyone confirm if the hinge pins can be replaced one at a time with the Door insitu or is it a door off job?

Thanks in anticipation

Gary

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 11:17 pm
by bernd_st
No way to get the pins out in situ. It's at least a hinge off job if you do it sequentially. Even with hinges off it's extremely difficult to get the pins out. Not for average DIYers.You need a proper machine shop with good equipment.
I remember that Chris Draycott used to sell refurbished ones on exchange base...

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 6:13 pm
by bernd_st
P.S. Just found that Chris D. is offering to refurbish used hinges. Not that cheap but certainly a good solution...

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 2:34 pm
by garyf
I'm still waiting for help to get the Doors off the car.

I've managed to loosen all the 'A' Post screws with an Impact Driver which wasn't easy, next job is to try and loosen the hinge to door screws which no doubt will be a pain too!

I see that you can buy Hinge Pin removal tools off Frost, but don't think they are big enough for the bottom hinges.

Chris is not far from me and I met him just before Christmas so will give him a call, although I would like to change them myself if possible.

Gary

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 6:11 pm
by bernd_st
You may try it yourself but with normal DIY equipment such as pin removers and drills you'll be lost. Drilled one out once but it took me ages. Furthermore it's not easy to drill absolutely centered and vertical. Then you need the proper pins which have to be made on a lathe in the correct dimensions. After that you need to partially press fit them. Quite a precision job. Really better to check with Chris :wink:

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2019 10:45 am
by garyf
I'm Hopefully getting some help on Saturday to remove the doors, then I will try and remove the hinge to door screws :cry: .

I've recently purchased a set of good quality Punches/drifts with one the correct size of 5/16", I've got a hefty Workbench and Vice so will try and knock the old pins out and see what happens?

In theory the top ones should be easier to do with them being shorter, although after 50+ years no doubt they will be rusted in pretty solid :?

Will keep you posted.

Gary

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2019 5:37 pm
by bernd_st
Noted. Wish you good luck :roll:

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2019 11:28 am
by garyf
I managed to get some help at the Weekend with removing the doors, we managed to remove the Hinges from the doors with no problems.

We also managed to drift out 3 of the old Pins from the Hinges with the use of my Large Bench Vice for two of them and a large Hammer and Drift on the third.

The fourth Hinge (Passenger Side top) was a swine though!!

Even with the use of Heat and an even larger Hammer and Drift no joy, it turns out the pin had snapped near the top, so with careful use of a junior hacksaw to cut the pin, it was drifted out in 3 sections.

I need to do some careful measuring but I reckon the bottom hinges are not too badly worn and 8mm pins should be OK, however the top ones (The passenger side in particular) are badly worn and may need line boring out 9mm or even 10mm to get matching pins to be a tight fit.

Not sure if this will weaken the hinge too much and a better option is secondhand hinges, any advice welcomed?

Gary

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:29 pm
by garyf
Some Photo's attached of the Hinges?

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:31 pm
by bernd_st
If you ask me line boring up to 9mm should work but for more I'ld rather look for better condition replacement hinges. Regard yourself very lucky that you could drift out the pins on 3 of them...

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 9:57 am
by garyf
Another option is one of these Oilite bush and pin kits, unfortunately I'm struggling to source a supplier in the UK? :cry:

I have purchased some hardened 5/16" diameter steel rod, so should be able to source some similar Oilite bushes in the UK.

I've got an Engineer friend I'm seeing at the weekend, will see what he advises?

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2019 9:03 pm
by bernd_st
Bushing/oilite sounds a very very good idea to me. Where did you get them from ? Are they sintered or made from brass ?

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 5:41 pm
by garyf
They are Oil Impregnated Phosphor/Bronze I believe?

I haven't ordered any as yet till I see what my Engineer mate thinks, although the sizes I need are readily available on E-Bay.

Will keep you posted

Gary

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 7:56 pm
by bernd_st
Thanks. Believe they should work. As long as proper line boring can be assured :roll:

Re: Door Hinge Pin Replacement

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:33 pm
by garyf
Another update on the Hinge refurbishment, after discussions with my Engineer mate he's confirmed he should be able to repair my Hinges with the Oilite Bushes I'm proposing :lol:

I've ordered some via the internet so hopefully they will be here by Wednesday and I can drop them off with him.

He's also going to re-weld the hinge we had the broken pin in, he's not happy with the existing Weld and feels it may have been weakened.

The only problem is he's a bit bust at the moment so I may not get them back for 2 to 3 weeks?

Watch this space for further updates.

Gary