door pins & bushings

[dj_joker_2002]

My drivers door needs new pins & bushings, so I bought them but I have no clue as to do the top pin & bushings. The problem is the spring, I can take it out but how do I get it back in there? Is there a special tool for this? If so whats it called? Mark

[Rileysowner]

There is a tool to do that. I just purchased one at princess auto (Canadian company) for a pretty cheap price. I would guess that others out there have them as well as it isn't that involved of a tool.

[Rebel]

If you don't buy the tool and just can't stand the wait and decide to take the spring out, be very carefull. It's not your Grand-Mother's spring. Does pack some terror if it hit you in the head. I don't have the tool myself so what I have done in the past is get a large screwdriver, hold thick rag over the spring and pop it out. The rag is to catch spring and also to keep it from bouncing off your head,,which you will know for sure if it hits it. As far as putting it back in,,compress in vice, use steel wire to keep it compressed after removing from vice, install and cut wire to release spring. Oh yea, put the rag back over the spring while cutting wire and be sure the wire is strong enough to keep spring compressed. When you compress and wire spring, don't compress as far as it will go, jsut enough to fit back in. If you compress to much and cut wire it may not seat in the proper place and fly across the garage or possibly wind up in your nose.
Be carefull and good luck.

[Cobra]

funny i pulled mine outta the passenger side door no problem ... how did i do it i have no idea after i got it out i was playing with it holy molly that thing can move rebels right have a rag covering it so it'll stop it

[dj_joker_2002]

OK I will atempt this project asap. Thank you for the advice!

BOINGGGGGGGGG! lol

[Rileysowner]

I have had to do mine for a long time as the pins are to the point that they slip out :( So far I have just carried a hammer and long screwdriver with me to hammer them back in when the slide out enough.

[Cobra]

mine are rusted to the point that i can barely recognize them.... almost scary...

[kings-x59]

Good pointers Reb. I've had a screwdriver launched by a leaf spring hit me in the eye, handle first fortunately. I have a very healthy respect for the power of springs now. ( and the continued use of my right eye as a bonus )
I think when I do mine, I'll get the special tool. I have quite a collection going now anyway.

[Water Boy]

From my previous posting.....
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Finally did the pin thing.

I used 2 2x4 on the roof and tied the other end to the passenger side roof rack rail so the working end is fully adjustable. I added the 2 other 2x4's to get the needed lift. I used 4 sets of cam-buckle straps since one was not long enough, so it was 2 per hanger. This set up also made it very adjustable. I did loosen one end of the boot to get it out of the way of the upper pin and to give the needed stretch when the door was free-hanging..

I thought I could do one at a time but the door won't move out of the way enough to remove the bushings.

I don't have a fingered spring compressor so I just used a big screwdriver and popped out the spring.

As for the tabbed retainer ring, I just pried it off the pin.

Had to tap the pins out part way. Near the head it is ribbed for fit. After that, I just used my fingers to remove the pins.

I used a screwdriver to punch out the bushings.











Got the pin kits from Auto Zone. They were located in the HELP section. #38407



As I said, I did not have a spring compressor so used a worm gear clamp to compress the spring to get it back in. I initially tried to just jam/cam it back in but it would not go for me. I don't have vise so I used a bar-clamp to compress the spring.



The pin kit did exactly what I hoped it would do. The door does not rub the "Nader" bolt anymore.

[kings-x59]

good post Waterboy. Did you replace one pin at a time, or did you pull both and install the new pins?

[Rileysowner]

Water Boy, Great post. I'm going to have to put this together for myself.

[Rebel]

Not a bad idea using the hose clamp to keep spring compressed. I'd be sure to use the stainless clamps like you did and not the cheap aluminum ones. I'm sure they would probably strip and allow spring to be launched across the garage.

[Water Boy]

good post Waterboy. Did you replace one pin at a time, or did you pull both and install the new pins?

I think I did both apart.

Since I did that ....
I've drank beer....
I've drank coffee....
I've had sex....
So I'm not real sure now but I think it was one at a time for safety reasons.

[Water Boy]

Not a bad idea using the hose clamp to keep spring compressed. I'd be sure to use the stainless clamps like you did and not the cheap aluminum ones. I'm sure they would probably strip and allow spring to be launched across the garage.

When I first posted that spring pic, I got busted pretty hard (by some members here) for using that method.
Something about poking my eye out and getting hairy palms.
Anyway, if I do it again I will use the special spring tool.

[s10-den]

I replaced the pins and bushings on my blazer, did exactly what you did with that hose clamp, but when I went to take it out, it was beech!spring opened up and actually trapped the hose clamp..Almost had to take the spring back off.The first side I did ,i just used a big prybar,now the inside of my door pillar is scratched to hell and a couple od little dings..Wife wasnt happy about that,at all !!