Door hinge pins • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **Roger Bettoni (Roger)** » 20 Feb 2003 13:49

My drivers side door sags a little and it seems like the bottom hinge pin is worn. My question: Is it possible to just replace the hinge pin with a larger diameter one or must I replace the entire hinge? The power windows wiring cable makes this a not too easy job (door removal etc)

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 20 Feb 2003 18:58

You can get hinge pin repair kits from places like Year One.

by **Ted S (Teds)** » 20 Feb 2003 20:07

NAPA also sells hinge repair kits, alot cheaper than YO.

by **Douglas Little (Dlittle)** » 21 Feb 2003 0:47

Door hing pins are cheap and easy. Any auto fix store has them. The only problem is that they have to be out to make the fix. This means that the door is in effect off.

by **Jeff Maxwell (Redchalleng** » 21 Feb 2003 3:30

Roger, did I send you a picture of my instrument panel last year? If I did you can look at the door hinge, and see that owner number 4 slid in these washers around the door hinge. It solved the same problem and almost takes a magnifying glass to see. Way cheaper as well!

by **Roger Bettoni (Roger)** » 24 Feb 2003 10:40

Thanks for all the advice. I'll check on that photo Jeff to see what you mean. I would much prefer not to remove the door due to the power windows wiring (nightmare I'm sure). I think I can get away with just removing the bottom hinge while propping up the door temporarily so I can look at how bad the hinge is, then decide which way to go. Cheers guys

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 24 Feb 2003 11:05

I would expect a connector to allow you to disconnect the wiring for the power windows.

Make sure you scribe a line right around the hinge so it goes back in exactly the same position.

by **Roger Bettoni (Roger)** » 24 Feb 2003 11:56

I must admit that I have not looked too closely for the connector, but nothing is visible - just a large cable from body to door through a grommet. Will definately scribe around the hinge first - thanks for the suggestion.

by **Roger Bettoni (Roger)** » 24 Feb 2003 13:12

Jeff, I've just looked at that photo you sent me and see exactly what you mean. Quite a simple fix, although the hinge pin will still remain loose in the hole. As I'm some 2 hours drive from the nearest auto parts shop, this will do for the time being (probably end up being a permanent repair if the truth be known)

by **Joel Bennett (Joel)** » 29 Apr 2003 20:13

Jeff, how many washers did that number 4 owner use to solve the sagging door. I've got a sagging door of my own that needs a quick temporary fix.

by **Roger Bettoni (Roger)** » 29 Apr 2003 22:58

Joel - I did Jeff's fix-it suggestion the other day and had good results. There are four bolts, so you'll need four washers (mine only required one washer per bolt to raise the door sufficiently) for the bottom hinge. I also had to re-align the post that the door latches on, as this was out a bit too. I found that using two jacks (one at door hinge end and one at other end) helped me with raising the door to the required height. Loosen the top bolts a little then remove all bolts from the bottom, put a little grease on the washers to help hold them in place as you put bolts back in. Easiest if you don't remove door entirely.

by **Jeff Maxwell (Redchalleng** » 30 Apr 2003 3:31

Roger was right, it's only one larger than normal washer in each bolt that boosted the door.

by **Joel Bennett (Joel)** » 30 Apr 2003 19:02

SWEEEEEEET!