Door alignment
-
Topic author - I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 3117
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm
- Location: The Pacific North Wet
- Has thanked: 47 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Door alignment
I think my passenger door is sagging. It's getting difficult to open, and the latch is grinding on the stud (see photo). If I open the door, grab the bottom of it, and pull up on it, it closes properly for a while. Does this mean the hinges are wearing out? If so, any suggestions what to get? The dealer wants too much money for door pins.
Last edited by MountainManJoe on Tue Jan 03, 2012 2:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Topic author - I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 3117
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm
- Location: The Pacific North Wet
- Has thanked: 47 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
-
- I finally get the smurf thing
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:51 am
- Location: Västerås Sweden/Korat Thailand
- Contact:
Re: Door alignment
Nopp. just open the door and look the hinge at the same time that you lifting the door a little. Then you can see if the pins are worn or the holes in the hinge.
-
- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 4379
- Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
- Location: New Haven, NY
Re: Door alignment
I have had to replace the bronze bushings and pins before. I got mine at the dealer but I would think Rockauto or any auto parts store would have them.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Mileage spreadsheet
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Mileage spreadsheet
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
-
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1230
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 4:50 am
- Location: Billings, MT, 'MERICA!
Re: Door alignment
I got mine at O'Reily's.
Mike, Billings, MT, 'MERICA!
92 Safari SLE w/Z Motor (sold to a good home)
98 AWD Stro LS
93 Suburban Silverado 4x4
Look for the MISSING Alien in the Right Seat. AL, PHONE HOME!!!
92 Safari SLE w/Z Motor (sold to a good home)
98 AWD Stro LS
93 Suburban Silverado 4x4
Look for the MISSING Alien in the Right Seat. AL, PHONE HOME!!!
-
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 2009
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:24 am
- Location: Evergreen, Al. 96 mile marker, where life is slow and there are no rules.
Re: Door alignment
Yes,,you will have to remove the door unless you're really good at it. Hopefully the wear hasn't egg shaped the hole where your new bushings will go.
89 Astro, 350 V-8, Shaved doors, Filled Slider, Corvette IRS, 94 Mustang GT Rack & Pinion(Thanks to Skip), Cad Tail lights from SoCalliV8 ( RIP) Miss you my friend.
VIDEO
If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one
If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words
VIDEO
If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one
If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words
-
- I finally get the smurf thing
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:51 am
- Location: Västerås Sweden/Korat Thailand
- Contact:
Re: Door alignment
To replace the bronze bushings and pins you will have to remove the door. You can replace them with the door on, but it is really really tight, and it is a great risk of damage something while working.
You check them with the door on.
You check them with the door on.
Re: Door alignment
Likely you just need to replace the bushings and pins. Grab the bottom end of the door and lift it it, if the door rocks then the bushings are shot. I did mine on the van a couple years back, got the pins and bushings from GM as they were pretty cheap.
Changing them wasn't actually too hard as I did it by myself and ended up strapping the door to one of the forks on the forklift ( but you could use straps to tie it up to a beam/treebranch/balcony ect.. ). The thread on the subject is listed below. Any time you remove the doors you must put multiple layers of painters tape then duct tape over that because you will end up banging the edges of the door when de/re installing and end up chipping the paint otherwise
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2585
Changing them wasn't actually too hard as I did it by myself and ended up strapping the door to one of the forks on the forklift ( but you could use straps to tie it up to a beam/treebranch/balcony ect.. ). The thread on the subject is listed below. Any time you remove the doors you must put multiple layers of painters tape then duct tape over that because you will end up banging the edges of the door when de/re installing and end up chipping the paint otherwise
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2585
-
Topic author - I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 3117
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm
- Location: The Pacific North Wet
- Has thanked: 47 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Re: Door alignment
That's a great topic. Thanks.
What is the special tool everyone is talking about? It looks like it would be difficult to get in there with the spring compressors I've seen.
Couldn't you avoid elaborate door hanging schemes by just supporting it from the bottom and doing one pin at a time?
What is the special tool everyone is talking about? It looks like it would be difficult to get in there with the spring compressors I've seen.
Couldn't you avoid elaborate door hanging schemes by just supporting it from the bottom and doing one pin at a time?
-
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 2009
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:24 am
- Location: Evergreen, Al. 96 mile marker, where life is slow and there are no rules.
Re: Door alignment
If I remember correctly...you'll have to take the spring out which isn't that hard to do. Just wrap a rag around it and pop it out with a screwdriver. Do not, repeat,,do not just pop it out without making sure it is secure in every way and I've found a rag works well at keeping it from flying across the room or hitting you in the head. Putting it back in is another deal. We'll see how it goes getting it out.
89 Astro, 350 V-8, Shaved doors, Filled Slider, Corvette IRS, 94 Mustang GT Rack & Pinion(Thanks to Skip), Cad Tail lights from SoCalliV8 ( RIP) Miss you my friend.
VIDEO
If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one
If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words
VIDEO
If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one
If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words
-
- ASV Supporter
- Posts: 2060
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:27 pm
- Location: Misty Mountains of Cowichan BC.
Re: Door alignment
I used some vice grips, a 1/4 x 6 inch socket extension, a flat prybar, and a BFH as the "Special" tools.
Worked just fine. if your lifted, Set a chair beside the door to rest it on while it's un-pinned.
Worked just fine. if your lifted, Set a chair beside the door to rest it on while it's un-pinned.
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
-
Topic author - I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 3117
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm
- Location: The Pacific North Wet
- Has thanked: 47 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Re: Door alignment
So I just called GM, and they don't sell the bushings. They sell the pins only, or the entire hinge. Prices as follows:
Pin (#12338015): $8.85 each.
Upper hinge (#15536614): $60.00
Lower hinge (#15536616): $50.25
EDIT: OK I phoned around to local part dealers and the best price is just 5 mins down the road from me (Coquitlam Auto Parts Plus for those in the region). $5.50 for a kit containing 2 pins + 4 bushings. GM is out to lunch.
(Dorman part# 703-263)
http://www.dormanproducts.com/p-28808-703-263.aspx
-
- ASV Supporter
- Posts: 2060
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:27 pm
- Location: Misty Mountains of Cowichan BC.
Re: Door alignment
Good Work. GM is out to lunch!!
Is that store at the top of the hill near north road, I think I used to shop there...
I wanted to replace 2 of the small plastic button assemblies that hold the pop out windows. I wanted 2 screws, 2 plastic washers, and 2 buttons. So, I sheepishly ventured into the domain of the stealership, that I so carefully avoid at all cost. Of course they had none, but would be happy to order me a bag of each, minimum. Screws 2.25 each (10 per bag) Plastic Washers, 4.75 each (10 per bag) Buttons 5.25 each (10 per bag) some rough quick math, and I'm looking at... GM - out to lunch!! Plus, didnt they get a huge tax dollar bailout a while back?!?!
Is that store at the top of the hill near north road, I think I used to shop there...
I wanted to replace 2 of the small plastic button assemblies that hold the pop out windows. I wanted 2 screws, 2 plastic washers, and 2 buttons. So, I sheepishly ventured into the domain of the stealership, that I so carefully avoid at all cost. Of course they had none, but would be happy to order me a bag of each, minimum. Screws 2.25 each (10 per bag) Plastic Washers, 4.75 each (10 per bag) Buttons 5.25 each (10 per bag) some rough quick math, and I'm looking at... GM - out to lunch!! Plus, didnt they get a huge tax dollar bailout a while back?!?!
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
-
Topic author - I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 3117
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm
- Location: The Pacific North Wet
- Has thanked: 47 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Re: Door alignment
Yep. Corner of North Rd & Como Lake Ave. I've purchased quite a few things there. Customer service is really good.doyoulikeithere wrote:Is that store at the top of the hill near north road, I think I used to shop there...
That's right, GM was bailed out. Did you know they make most of their profit from (probably risky) loans?