Replace door hinge pins? - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer

Take a good look at the door hinges. Often, there will be replaceable bronze bushing inserts in the hinges, and the hinge pins are also prone to wear, especially if the recommended lubrication is not done.

If the bushings and/or pins are not replaceable and the wear is in the hinges, the hinges willl need to be replaced.

Other possible causes are loose hinge mounting fasteners, failure of the door or "A" pillar (for front doors) at the hinge mounting location(s) due to rust or physical damage, and (of course) collision damage to the door or door frame.

I have done a 100 of these.

The hardest part is going to be to reinstall the spring on the lower hinge arm. this is not a screw but rather a pin.
There are two hinges that hold the door to body.
when the upper and lower pins are removed the door will come away from body, it is important that before you remove the pins you take a look at the hinges.
Pay close att. to the way the hinges sit inside each other and the way the pins go in. see if they go from top to bottom or from bottom to top. also note where the copper bushings sit in hinges. each hinge has one pin and two copper bushings top go into hinge.
Over time the pins and bushings wear out ,making door hard to open and close. When the pins and bushings get so bad that the bushing is worn out and then the pins are now wearing into the hinge hole itself then this get tricky. if hinge hole is egg shaped the new bushings will not last. the door will hang again in a few weeks. this is where is get costly, the hinges now need replacing. i have gotten good at welding the holes and filing them back to shape but this takes skill or hole will be wrong and bushing will not fit or line up.

Here is a youtube video to help you.
Take note. put jack stands under door with cloth to avoid scratching door.this is to hold door when pins are removed. have somone help you, they will hold door on stands. the wires will still run through door, pull door away from body a little to allow room to work.remove the spring, it will fall out as you remove pins, remove old bushings, clean hinge area and holes,next install new bushings, apply lube to holes for pins and on bushings, slide door back on frame hinges and install pins, next slide lock washers on pins to hold pins. last is the spring. you will need a spring tool, you may rent one at auto parts store. hope this helps good day.

Sounds like the door hinges are worn. Determine if it is the hinges or the hinge pin that is worn. It it is only the pins, which is unlikely, you can just replace these, if it is the hinges, the complete hinges will have to be replaced.

1. Place masking tape on the inside edges of the door, on both the inside and outside of the door. 2. Remove the door spring by using a door spring removal tool. Insert the tool into the door spring, turn the knob with a screwdriver to compress the spring, then pull out the tool. 3. Set a 5-gallon bucket under the door. This will help support the weight of the door. 4.Place a nail punch under the hinge pin, and strike it with a hammer. Repeat this until the hinge pin begins to come out of the hinge. 5.Place the end of a flat-head screwdriver under the top of the hinge pin, then strike the screwdriver with the hammer to force the hinge pin out of the hinge. 6. Place the bushing on top of the new door hinge pin, and tap it into place with the hammer. 7. Insert the new hinge pin into the hinge. Tap on the hinge pin with the hammer and nail punch to force the pin into the hinge. 8. Insert the hinge spring back into the door, and release the tension on the spring removal tool. 9. Spray the door hinge with a lubricating spray or apply grease.

I know there are a few directions but it is fairly easy to do. If you have access to an air hammer and a compressor you can use this in place of a manual hammer to make the process a bit easier.

Hope this helps.

Before attempting to adjust the door, you need to check the wear on the hinge pins. Open the door fully and look at the middle of the hinge. See the pin there? Lift up on the latch side of the door as you watch the hinge pin. If you see the hinge moving around the pin or see the pin shifting back and forth then the metal grommet the pin goes through is worn and needs replacing. Motormite makes a replacement pin set that comes with new grommets ( or bushings to some). It's not so hard to change, but it can be a little tricky. Jack up the door to relieve the pressure on the pin.Start with the top pin. Watch the pin as you jack and keep going until the pin is in the middle of the movement range. Tap the old pin out and then inspect the grommet to see if it's worn past the outer edge of the metal. If it is worn past the edge then you'll need to replace that hinge. Otherwise, you can use that old pin to tap out the old grommet, and replace with the new one, then the new pin. slowly release the pressure on the jack and watch the new pin for excessive movement, then do the bottom pin and grommet.. Test door swing and alignment. If the door still hits low on the catch post, loosen those torq bolts after lifting the door slightly and now lift the door the distance it was low plus 1/8 inch. retighten torq bolts and release jack, then retest the door alignment to the catch post. Don't let the door strike the catch post hard - just let it slowly come into contact as you watch for alignment. Repeat procedure until door lines up centered on taht catch post.
Good luck!!

The hingepin is available in some of the help kits at the parts store. If you are just trying to make the door tight again there is no reason to unbolt the hinge. You just grind or chisel the top shoulder of the pin away and then punch the old pin through the bottom.

Put the new pin through the hinge and bend a shoulder on the new pin. Some may even use a nut with threads.

To install the pin or replace the hinge you should open the door and try to brace the bottom of the door with a bucket or books or anything where you can keep the door from changing position. Once braced, a hinge will just unbolt and you can swap it with the new part. Do one hinge at a time if you have 2 on a door.

may need new hinges on door and body of vehicle, if so it is about 600 -700 to replace , may be able to get new bushing and pins , without replacing hinges

You may need new hinge pins, replacement of the catch pin may be helpful as well. The plastic bushing on these tend to go bad letting the door hang lower and making it difficult for the handle to open the door.

JTRadiojunkie

GM Full-Size Trucks 1988-1998 Repair Information Doors - REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

R/V Series
See Figures 1, 2 and 3
If the door being removed is to be reinstalled, matchmark the hinge position.

1. If the door is to be replaced with a new one, remove the trim panels weathersheets and all molding.
   

Fig. 1: Door hinge-R/V Series

1. If the door is to be replaced with a new one, remove the glass, locks and latches.
2. If equipped with a wiring harness, remove the trim panel and disconnect the harness. Guide the wiring out of the door.
3. Support the door and remove the hinge-to-body attaching bolts. Lift the door from the truck.
4. Install the door.
5. Perform the alignment procedures indicated below.
   

Fig. 2: Door hinge components-C/K Series



Fig. 3: Removing the hinge spring


C/K Series

1. On trucks with power components in the door, disconnect the battery ground cable.
2. On trucks with power components in the door, remove the cowl side vent cover.
3. On trucks with power components in the door, disconnect the wiring going to the door, under the dash panel. Feed the wiring through the door pillar.
4. Cover the door hinge spring with a heavy towel. Using tool J-36604 or its equivalent, insert the blades of the tool between the spring coils and turn the barrel nut to compress and hold the spring. Remove the spring using the tool.
5. Remove the lower hinge pin retainer.
6. Using a plastic or rubber mallet and locking pliers, remove the lower hinge pin.
7. Install a bolt through the lower hinges to hold the door while removing the upper hinge pin.
8. Remove the upper hinge pin retainer.
9. Remove the upper hinge pin.
10. Support the door and remove the bolt from the lower hinge.
    

To install:

1. Position the door and install the bolt in the lower hinge.
2. Install the upper hinge pin. with the pointed end up.
3. Install a new upper hinge pin retainer.
4. Remove the bolt from the lower hinges.
5. Install the lower hinge pin with the pointed end down.
6. Install a new lower hinge pin retainer.
7. Using tool J-36604, install the hinge spring.
8. On trucks with power components in the door, connect the wiring going to the door, under the dash panel. Feed the wiring through the door pillar.
9. On trucks with power components in the door, install the cowl side vent cover.
10. On trucks with power components in the door, connect the battery ground cable.

ADJUSTMENTSee Figure 4 The holes for the hinges are oversized to provide for latitude in alignment. Align the door hinges first, then the striker.
C/K series utilize hinges that are welded to the door and frame. No adjustment is possible except when replacement hinges have been installed.



Fig. 4: Door adjustment check points

1. If a door is being installed, first mount the door and tighten the hinge bolts lightly.
   

If the door has not been removed, determine which hinge bolts must be loosed to effect alignment.

1. Loosen the necessary bolts just enough to allow the door to be moved with a padded prybar.
2. Move the door in small movements and check the fit after each movement.
   

Be sure that there is no binding or interference with adjacent panels.

1. Repeat this procedure until the door is properly aligned.

R/V Series:
Door edge-to-rocker panel: 6mm Door edge-to-roof panel: 5mm Door edge-to-rear pillar: 5mm Door edge-to-front pillar: 2mm
C/K Series:
Door edge-to-rocker panel: 6mm Door edge-to-roof panel: 6mm Door edge-to-rear pillar: 4mm Door edge-to-front pillar: 7mm Door front edge-to-fender: 5mm

1. Tighten all the bolts to 26 ft. lbs. (35 Nm).

Shims may be either fabricated or purchased to install behind the hinges as an aid in alignment.

Hope this help, TY for using Fixya (remember comment and rated this). Good luck.

Which door is it ? If it is a front door, then it may be the hinge pin bushing that needs replacing. These can be bought at any auto parts store. Get the pin and bushing set because the hinge pin will need to be ground off to remove it. Press the new bushings in with pliers and insert the new pin from the top