Door alignment problems before and after hinge pin install (Page 1/1)
phils88GT APR 15, 02:00 PM
I had the driver side fender off looking at things over the weekend. I thought it would make it easier to replace the hinge pins and bushings, however, I noticed a huge gap at the top front of the door when compared to the other side. I cannot figure out how this happened.

Is the "plate" on the door side (top hinge) supposed to slide around freely? The bolts that hold it to the door seem to come from inside if the door itself. I wish I had pics, can add some later for reference.

Thanks all,
phils88GT APR 15, 09:50 PM
So, for a better understanding of what I am talking about, here is a picture of the passenger side gap between the front top edge of the door to the a-pillar:



And here is the driver side, after the new upper hinge pin and bushings are installed:



And, here is a pic of the upper hinge. I am not sure if the two nuts on the bracket on the door side are even supposed to be there. When I had the old pin and bushings out, that bracket moved around a bit freely, sliding around a 1/4" or so side to side. Doesn't seem right: Here is a pic of it..with the nuts on it...:



What could be going on?

I realize the pin is not all of the way in place yet in the last pic. I was working on it. It doesn't matter when it is in place. I just don't get it? I wonder if the door itself could be jacked up? It was hit on that door at some point in the past. I am going the take the inner and outer door panels off this week and see what is behind all of it.

[This message has been edited by phils88GT (edited 04-15-2024).]

IMSA GT APR 15, 11:06 PM
Absolutely NONE of those nuts or bolts should be loose. What you can do is loosen the 2 nuts in the picture and push the door inward. While pushing inward, tighten the nuts to hold the door in the right place. That should eliminate the large gap on the top of the door. Also because these are new, you may need to do some adjustment so the rear gap by the latch is even too.

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 04-15-2024).]

phils88GT APR 15, 11:13 PM
Ok, thank you for that. Back to my question though, should those two nuts on the door side bracket even be there at all, or did someone add them to compensate for a messed up door hinge?

Tightening them in place is VERY hard to do because they are hard to get to.
IMSA GT APR 15, 11:21 PM

quote
Originally posted by phils88GT:

Ok, thank you for that. Back to my question though, should those two nuts on the door side bracket even be there at all, or did someone add them to compensate for a messed up door hinge?

Tightening them in place is VERY hard to do because they are hard to get to.



That was my next thought so I had to look at the service manual. I believe the hinge plate is supposed to be tapped and no nuts are needed. I don't know if someone added those by accident or the hinge plate is stripped out or drilled out too large.