Self-repair of car door hinges, what tools to use, technology for adjusting and restoring door hinges with sagging, gaps
Auto repair

Self-repair of car door hinges, what tools to use, technology for adjusting and restoring door hinges with sagging, gaps

The question of how to restore door hinges on a car arises for many drivers. Solving this problem is simple. But first you need to inspect the element for damage.

The problem of poor opening or closing of car doors is familiar to every driver. In this case, you will need to repair the door hinges of the car, which you can do yourself.

When Should You Repair Your Car Door Hinges?

Do-it-yourself repair of car door hinges is required if it has become difficult to open or close them, there is a rattling or creaking during movement, moisture gets into the interior, the gaps become uneven.

Self-repair of car door hinges, what tools to use, technology for adjusting and restoring door hinges with sagging, gaps

Sagging car door hinges

Sometimes scratches can be seen on the thresholds, or body elements are clearly skewed. Also, the restoration of the door hinges of a used car will be needed in case of visible defects in the element.

Do-it-yourself car door hinge repair

The question of how to restore door hinges on a car arises for many drivers. Solving this problem is simple. But first you need to inspect the element for damage. If the hinges have noticeable defects, corrosion or deformation, restoration will be required. Usually this is typical for non-new cars with high mileage.

Necessary materials and tools

Repairing the door hinge of an old car will require the following tools and materials:

  • a set of screwdrivers and keys;
  • grinders;
  • door hinges or axles;
  • drill;
  • metal plates or washers (if necessary);
  • fasteners;
  • pliers;
  • hammer.
All tools must be prepared in advance so that in the process of work everything you need is at hand.

The procedure for repairing door hinges with dismantling the door

Replacing door hinges or their pivots can be done with or without removing the door. It is advisable to remove the part if the wear of the elements is large enough.

Self-repair of car door hinges, what tools to use, technology for adjusting and restoring door hinges with sagging, gaps

Door hinge that needs to be replaced

In this case, the repair is performed in the following sequence:

  1. Remove bodywork.
  2. Bulgarian cut loops.
  3. Drill out the rest of the fasteners and pull them out with your hands.
  4. Drill a new hole for the bolt.
  5. Install new hinge and bolts.
  6. Cut the bolts with a grinder.
  7. Install and secure the door.
  8. Adjust gaps.

Now you can check the quality of the work done.

Without dismantling

Repair of car door hinges is possible without removing the doors. In this case, the hinges will have to be repaired, not replaced. You can restore them in this way:

  • Take the hardware and wrap it with electrical tape. To do this, you can use the bolt M10-M14.
  • Attach it to the bottom hinge and press the door. Press down slowly and carefully.
  • Check if the hinge is bent enough so that the door closes effortlessly and does not sag.
  • If not enough, repeat the procedure.
Self-repair of car door hinges, what tools to use, technology for adjusting and restoring door hinges with sagging, gaps

Hinge adjustment without dismantling the doors

As a result of this procedure, the loop will be somewhat deformed. But it will help solve the problem. Therefore, resorting to this method should be in extreme cases, when it is not possible to buy new parts.

Sometimes they do this, for example, on very old and inexpensive cars or before selling.

Car door hinge adjustment

Adjusting the door hinges of the car is necessary when they are strongly sagging or gaps form. Sometimes it happens that the loops themselves are working, but their position has changed. This happens from time to time or as a result of an accident. Also, the question of how to adjust the door hinges on a used car also arises after replacing the seal.

With gaps

Uneven gaps can occur after an accident or if the door is installed incorrectly for another reason. This is not only ugly, but also interferes with the normal closing or opening of doors. You can fix this problem without removing the body element. To do this, place a washer of the desired thickness under the hinge. But this is a last resort when nothing else helps.

Self-repair of car door hinges, what tools to use, technology for adjusting and restoring door hinges with sagging, gaps

Tightening loops with gaps

Therefore, it is necessary to loosen the hinges and, by raising or lowering the door, set the correct gaps. You can move it forward or backward. It may be necessary to adjust the gaps of adjacent body elements.

After replacing the seal

The new seal is often slightly thicker or thinner than the old one. Therefore, closing the door becomes more difficult. And sometimes it opens very badly. To adjust them, tighten or loosen the hinges.

When the door sags

In heavily used cars or if used incorrectly, the doors can sag. This leads to difficulties with opening them, the appearance of an unpleasant creak when driving and other problems.

Self-repair of car door hinges, what tools to use, technology for adjusting and restoring door hinges with sagging, gaps

Spacers in the loop from sagging doors

You can fix the defect in the following way:

  • Remove the counter part of the door lock.
  • Close the door to understand the correctness of its position.
  • If the part is raised or lowered, loosen the hinges and return the element to the correct position.
  • Twist loops.
  • If it does not help, loosen the lower or upper hinge (depending on the position of the body part) and place thin metal plates under the hinge.
  • If the body element is recessed inward, move the hinges slightly towards the edge. If the part is pushed out, then move them inward.

The defect must be corrected in a timely manner. Sagging doors can cause scratches and chips in the door sills, which then lead to corrosion.

When it is necessary to repair the hinges, when the adjustment

Do-it-yourself repair of car door hinges is carried out if there are visible signs of wear or mechanical damage to the elements. In their normal state, adjustment can be dispensed with.

See also: How to remove mushrooms from the body of a VAZ 2108-2115 car with your own hands
It is also necessary to adjust the hinges after replacing the seal or removing the door. Adjustment will be required after body repair.

Tips and Tricks

In order to repair the car door hinges less often, you should monitor their condition. There are some simple tips to help prolong their life.

  • The hinges need regular lubrication. They must be lubricated when the first signs of creaking appear.
  • Hinges should be regularly inspected for signs of corrosion or deformation. At the first sign of defects, repair or replace parts.
  • Monitor the quality of body repairs. Use only original or carefully selected spare parts for replacement. Clearances during recovery after an accident must be set correctly.
  • Do not slam doors or allow passengers to do so. Otherwise, the rapid wear of their loops and sagging are inevitable.
  • Do not leave doors open for long periods of time. This also contributes to the violation of the correct position of the loops and their wear.
  • Don't lean on doors.
  • Do not hang bags or other heavy objects on them.

Repairing door hinges is not difficult, but it is better to prevent the appearance of a defect, especially since it is very simple.

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