Stepdown door hinge: replace half?

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
The lower driver's side door hinge on my stepdown rusted and, a couple of days ago, snapped off between the pillar and the pin. I have replacement hinges, but wonder if it would be feasible to replace just the half from the pin to the pillar, and leave the door portion (which looks perfect) alone? Is it hard to get the pins out?



Any advice for getting the hinge bolts out? I have a couple of them freed up, using WD40 and an impact Phillips screwdriver, but a couple are going to have to be drilled out or (what's left of) the heads ground off.



I saw the thread that suggests using old valve stems to replace worn pins.

Comments

  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    John-51HP wrote:
    The lower driver's side door hinge on my stepdown rusted and, a couple of days ago, snapped off between the pillar and the pin. I have replacement hinges, but wonder if it would be feasible to replace just the half from the pin to the pillar, and leave the door portion (which looks perfect) alone? Is it hard to get the pins out?

    Any advice for getting the hinge bolts out? I have a couple of them freed up, using WD40 and an impact Phillips screwdriver, but a couple are going to have to be drilled out or (what's left of) the heads ground off.

    I saw the thread that suggests using old valve stems to replace worn pins.

    Do you have the door completely off the car - or are you trying to do this still attached?

    The lower portion is from an old thread on removing the door hinge screws... The tool also comes with an "Easy Out" type bit for the tough ones.

    WHOA! Don't drill them out! I bought this tool and it was the best money I have spent on a tool in a long time. I got ALL 32 of the screws out of my 49 without drilling one of them out! I used a philips bit in all but 1 of them where I used the "left-e" bit that came with the tool.

    shake.jpg

    http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...keyword=Left-e

    I did heat the heads up and had to work a few in and out - while spraying "Break Free" (similar to WD40) - but all the original threads (nut plates) are intact and I only have to replace the screws

    Here's an idea of what my hinges and screws looked like - about as bad as they could get and they still came out with that tool!

    rustjamb.jpg

    A better 50.00 you can't spend! I think Snap-on sells something similar...
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I'm trying to do it with the door still on the car, using a jack stand to support the open door. Thanks for the suggestion on the tool. As you surely know, the link shows Eastwood no longer carries the item. SnapOn quality is usually pretty pricey but I'll look into it.



    I have already drilled into the lower left bolt, whose Phillips slots were barely discernible, and the upper right pillar bolt broke free with a big hammer on an impact screwdriver. The other two I still have hopes for.



    Here's a shot of my lower hinge, before the drilling reported above. It looks similar to your lower hinge.



    34o35u8.jpg
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    John-51HP wrote:
    I'm trying to do it with the door still on the car, using a jack stand to support the open door. Thanks for the suggestion on the tool. As you surely know, the link shows Eastwood no longer carries the item. SnapOn quality is usually pretty pricey but I'll look into it.

    I have already drilled into the lower left bolt, whose Phillips slots were barely discernible, and the upper right pillar bolt broke free with a big hammer on an impact screwdriver. The other two I still have hopes for.

    Here's a shot of my lower hinge, before the drilling reported above. It looks similar to your lower hinge.

    34o35u8.jpg


    I think Eastwood is probably just "out of stock" on the Shake-n=Brake item...

    I'd go ahead and replace the entire hinge.

    2 reasons

    1. Trying to drive the pin out while the door is attached to the car - given this application - would probably be more work, if not near impossible.

    2. Removing the hinge on the door side will allow for inspection of cracks under the hinge - as a lot of times the hinge pocket spot welds will rustout or break do to the age and stress.

    Check out this thread on a back door fix...

    http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13575&highlight=Rear+door+hinge
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Dan's right, as usual. Get the shake-'n-break tool. I'll try and look up where I got mine, but's identical to the one in the pic. Think I paid like $45.00 for it a couple of years ago. It is the BEST tool for working on rusted, rotted out hardware when you are trying to get something apart. My hinges were no better than Dan's and I got out all the bolts as well. Sprayed them with a penetrating oil that MAC tools sells, which is better than anything I've tried. Some of them I heated up as well.



    Only mistake I made was I whacked the handle with a hammer a couple of times, which the instructions explicity tell you NOT to do. Sure enough, I broke the handle and had to machine a new one. Really, once the oil and the impacting break the rust and gunk free, simple turning by hand is sufficient to break the threads free. Then I switched to a ratchet and #4 phillips bit and out they came. This tool has been used many, many times since then on similar situations where I'm trying to get something off or apart.



    Like Dan said, best $50.00 tool I bought in a long time.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thanks! On both of your advice, I ordered this. $41 + ship/tax = $51. Neither Eastwood nor Wesco had it in stock, but Toolsource seems to. Hope it's the same one!



    http://www.toolsource.com/shakenbreak%C3%A2%C2%84%C2%A2-impact-screw-remover-p-50961.html?sourceid=googleps



    PS: Dan, thanks for the link to your photo series on doors, with the metal tears and dents. Your workmanship is something this driveway duffer can, at least, aspire to.



    PPS: Bad news... Just received this email from Toolsource:



    Thank you for shopping at ToolSource! The Shake-N-Breakâ„¢ Air Impact Screw Remover has been discontinued by the manufacturer. We will no longer be carrying this manufacturer.



    Guess I'll have to look at SnapOn...



    PPPS: Snap-On, $57 + $3.50 tax = $60.50, free ground shipping.



    http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=power&item_ID=7391&group_ID=863&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    o.k., well that WAS the right one. But for $60.00, you can't go wrong with a Snap-On (lifetime guarantee). Wise decision on your part, I believe. You won't be sorry.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    RL Chilton wrote:
    o.k., well that WAS the right one. But for $60.00, you can't go wrong with a Snap-On (lifetime guarantee). Wise decision on your part, I believe. You won't be sorry.


    Hmm - not sure what's going on with toolsource,

    Wivco, I believe is the originator of this tool.. I sent them an email to check on availability.

    http://www.wivco.com/shake_n_break.htm

    I also tried a Google "air hammer screw remover" and got Wivco at the top.

    I've bought tools from both of these sites before...

    http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/pc-15601-565-wivco-shake-n-break-air-impact-screw-remover-th28000.aspx

    http://www.costplustools.com/Wivco-H28000-SHAKE-N-BREAK40TM41-Air-Impact-Screw-Remover_p_3552.html
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    I can't remember if I got mine from Wivco or it might have been TPI Tool Source. I've used them on a number of occasions.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    My Google on "shake'n'break" produces a bunch of software-related stuff, then what we're looking for at the bottom. The first entry, Wivco, took me to Wesco, which reports We’re sorry, this item is currently sold out. . Yesterday, Toolsource, the next entry, produced the results reported above. At that point I went to Snap-On. (This morning, Toolsource is showing the Wivco item for $32.95! I did not actually try to order it; maybe the "unavailable" message would come later. I did email them to ask what's going on.)



    So... not to despair, guys; the tool is still available, from a highly respected company at only a few bucks more than from the Wivco alternative that seems to be "no longer available."



    PS: A reply email from Toolsource reports that (despite the new price shown on the website) the Wivco Shake'N'Break is still not available.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This looks pretty affordable.



    http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-MAC-3-8-HAND-IMPACT-WRENCH-SCREWDRIVER-SOCKET_W0QQitemZ300318300418QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45ec5d9902&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Same principle, but this one you whack the back end with a hammer. The shake-n-break tool hooks up to the air hose. This other one would take a lot of whacks and you might end up bending something. Would work great on heavy cast parts, but not sheetmetal stuff.
  • kamzack
    kamzack Senior Contributor
    Or wack your hand, as I've done. Makes ya talk loud and makes ya say all kinds of bad words, some ya thought ya'd forgotten and some new ones you'd not ever heard before. And the part being wacked on takes on a new name and a totally new description and the rest of the door area should immediately run and hide for fear of having new bruises applied and new dents and broken glass.

    Now as for me, I've never done that but then I lye alot too.
  • kamzack
    kamzack Senior Contributor
    Oh, I forgot to mention that after this misaimed wack occurs, ya have to go on an easter egg hunt, as the wacking tool had suddenly become jet propelled and airborne by someone who can't wack straight.

    I'm absolutely convinced I'm the only this has ever happened to, so this experience will be a huge surprise to folk who mess wid old cars and such, especially ones who try to get hinge screws from said cars. Also I know that I'm the only one who has peered through the wrong part on the bi-focal glasses I've had use for the last 20 years. Don't throw your glasses they're harder to find than Easter eggs. Don't ask me how I know. And I'm usually a calm guy, too.

    Fun wid cars.

    Kim
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    kamzack wrote:
    Oh, I forgot to mention that after this misaimed wack occurs, ya have to go on an easter egg hunt, as the wacking tool had suddenly become jet propelled and airborne by someone who can't wack straight.

    I'm absolutely convinced I'm the only this has ever happened to, so this experience will be a huge surprise to folk who mess wid old cars and such, especially ones who try to get hinge screws from said cars. Also I know that I'm the only one who has peered through the wrong part on the bi-focal glasses I've had use for the last 20 years. Don't throw your glasses they're harder to find than Easter eggs. Don't ask me how I know. And I'm usually a calm guy, too.

    Fun wid cars.

    Kim





    No, you're right . . . that's why there's not one in my toolbox:D
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