Just bought an '02 TJ recently and have been doing lots of work on it. I went to take the doors off and they were stuck pretty good. With some PB blaster and a floor jack, I got the driver's side off and was able to clean and grease it so it's not bad to take on/off now. I still can't get the passenger's side door off, even with the floor jack. I don't think it's a rust issue because the door swings fine. I think it might be the bushing inside all torn and bunched up, but I'm not positive. Also looks like the door hinge is broken in half somewhere in there because the threaded part on the bottom doesn't move when the door swings. Any thoughts on a good way to get it out? Kind of stuck for now. Thanks!
If the hinge pin is broken the door should still slide up and out. You may need to Use a Hammer on the hinge pin and lightly tap up on the end of the pin while the nut is still on the threads. Also apply upward pressure with a floor jack and a piece of wood for a cushion under the door. Once the pin has raised enough to enter the body hinge half, use a drift to drive it out the rest of the way if needed.
Great, thanks! Gonna keep at it til it pops out. It seems like the best way to go after they come out is to keep the bushings out and just lubricate the hinge pins with some grease or graphite lubricant I heard works really well too.
just had same issue last wk, started on vehicle with hi-lift, then body side hinge off and blaster for 5dy same issue top spins and bottom don't move, made sure it had no burrs on it...nothing, so took bit of heat to it still nothing, tried drivin the pin up , nope, tried whackin the hinge down, nope, I cut the s.o.b. with grinder just below the top section, it fell off and top of pin popped right out with 1 tap, that sucker is still stuck in bottom I cant drive it out with socket and 3# hammer, bought whole set of tj hinges off craigs list for 40$, or u can get bottoms for like 20$ a pair for aftermarkets, from what ive read look for delrin (<hope that's right) replacement bushings
I had same issue last week. Need 2 people pulling up, swing left and right while opening. I didn't think would work but did - this was after days of soaking in blaster and wd 40.
Not sure if anyone has said it, but roll the window down first. Once it breaks free, that door can come flying off. Easier to pull off with the window down and easier to carry as well.
I've never seen a polymer bushing from the factory; they were all metal. But replacing with Delrin is the way to go. It won't corrode like OEM, doors won't stick and be hard to remove, and they don't need lubrication.
I had so much trouble with mine. I tried the floor jack, having two of us, everything. It was the lower hinge that wouldn't break free, so I removed the lower hinge from the jeep, took the door off, and even then I could NOT get that lower hinge to separate. I put the nut partially back and and wailed on it with a hammer, but nothing. I ordered new hinges and replaced them. Like you mentioned, the pin in my lower hinge was seized into the lower bracket and spun in the upper bracket, while it should be the other way around. Good Luck!
I have had the same problem. With my 06 TJ. I am going to try some of these ideas. Thank you! I does not look like the doors have ever been removed. On the passenger door, I tried to remove the nut, and it broke the bolt. Oops.
I have had the same problem. With my 06 TJ. I am going to try some of these ideas. Thank you! I does not look like the doors have ever been removed. On the passenger door, I tried to remove the nut, and it broke the bolt. Oops.
That's pretty common, but you don't really need the nut on the end. Most people just leave them off, for ease of door removal. It's not going anywhere, unless you are using it like a desert race truck.
Don't use a floor jack. One thing that needs to happen when removing the doors is to not bind the hinge pins. The doors need to be lifted close to the body and straight up while swinging a little back and forth. It's a dance.
Perhaps. They are not the Delrin inserts I have seen for sale. I just know that my Jeep had very little done to it when I bought it. I would be extremely surprised if the PO would have concerned himself with the hinge inserts.
My 03 Rubicon seems to have polymer inserts. I bought it with 19K miles on it but the previous owner "may" have changed the bushings. The doors were pretty tight the first time I removed them. Anti seize made them a breeze after the first removal.
My daughter's 03 Sport I broke the studs on the driver's side, the passenger side nuts came right off. The doors came off easily though even with 80k on the Jeep and for sure first time removal. Anti seize on them as well.
Finally got mine off. I used a Jack and a wood block underneath the door. Time to go for a ride!
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Ask a question
Ask a question
Jeep Wrangler Forum
9M posts
468K members
Since 2005
A forum community dedicated to Jeep Wrangler owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about reviews, performance, trail riding, gear, suspension, tires, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, for all JL, JT, JK, TJ, YJ, and CJ models!