Door Hinge Wear and Replacement

[OutbackDiesel]

I have a hinge wear problem... The door has begun to crack where the latch is because it comes in so low on closing. The pin is worn out on the top hinge. Anyway... I bought upper and lower replacement hinges for the Driver side door. I have done a couple searches and not really come up with enough information to tackle the project. My main concern is on both hinges there appears to be a hidden bolt. Those of you who have changed your hinges, how did you get to that bolt? Or, is it frozen and are you able to "unscrew" the entire hinge once the door is off? Any help out there would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[Alan Reagan]

The lower hidden bolt is accessible after removing the kick plate and then a piece of tape covering the access hole. I hate to say it but I couldn't find access to the top hidden bolt. There is a light gauge plate behind the kick plate that covers the hinge area and it will have to come off I think. I didn't spend enough time under there to figure it out.

 

[RHARVEY]

Mine has drooped a little, can it be adjusted back up instead of replacing the hinge?????



Rick

 

['956Wheel]

I never turn off the CTD with the door open as it shakes so hard my guess is it would stretch some steel... lots of leverage!

Mike

 

[OutbackDiesel]

I was wondering if maybe it would be reasonable to drill the top one out and retap and run a bolt through from the outside. The new hinges you get at the dealer are all one piece or pretty well immune to disassembly anyway. I just don't know if I want to experiment so far as to drill out and tap a new bolt. I guess if worst came to worst, I could weld it on at that point?