Door Hinges 101
#1
Door Hinges 101
I was in the US Air Force Body shop for a good long while.
I've changed and adjusted a LOT of door hinges on vehicles of most all types;
This weekend I decided to fix the doors on the SR 5 as they won't stay open.
I don't know if the door stop was ever moved from one hinge to other other on the S 10 but it won't matter.
I'm pretty sure you can apply this info to any GM vehicle that uses a coil spring integrated with the door stop.
Dorman has a door stop assembly that includes a roller, the roller pin, and a C clip arrangement to replace the
staked end on the OEM. They do not sell one for the S 10 but I have heard you can perform modifications on the
one they do sell to work on the S 10 I believe you open up the holes in the hinge to accommodate the larger
door stop pin. The door stop pin has a small end and a big end. The small is staked (note the tip mashed by a press)
to help keep the pin in the hinge, the other end is knurled so it press fits into the other side
of the hinge and it's drilled to hold the door stop roller and pin. Most times if you need to replace the roller
you can, but you have to get the large pin out of the hinge and that requires the removal of the "mashed"
small end of the pin. You can do this with a file, (if you have one) a small cut off tool. I used a sawsall and
cut the pin in 2 pieces. The problem is that bit of metal your removing (the tip) is part of what keeps the pin
in the hinge. Once it's gone, well it's gone. If you have a MIG or TIG welder you can replace this metal or just
weld a bead on the end after you reinstall it to keep it in the hinge. You can buy GM replacement parts (I got my on
Amazon) too; so you can put a replacement roller pin and roller in the hinge, GM will tell you the pin will not
rust (no need for paint) and is designed to blah, blah, blah. I removed the small pin from the door stop pin
after removing the roller, this will require the destruction of the nylon insert in the roller. Just keep prying on
the roller; I worked a shirt pocket sized common screwdriver between the nylon insert and the pin to stretch
it out so it would pass over the roller, it'll be a fight but it can be done. I then had 1/2 of the door stop pin and
the roller pin. The roller pin can be removed and (probably) reused. I used a 8" adjustable wrench between
the top of the large pin and the head of the small pin. I opened my bench vise just enough for the large pin
to hang freely between the jaws and with a narrow punch and with the use of that certain big hammer we all
know and love knocked the pins apart. My pin is in pretty good shape; I'm sure it could be reused on the now
door stop roller pin but I have new ones on the way and I don't want to redo this job so I'll wait for the new pins.
So when you get your parts together assemble it,press the roller pin into it's home and install your overhauled
door stop pin and roller in the hinge and rehang your door.
Here's what you should end up with: a new door stop roller pin (large) a new roller, and roller pin. This is the used pin.
Here is the door stop roller pin I sawalled with the roller pin still pressed into the larger pin. You can see the new roller and the old one with it's plastic insert removed from the roller; it will pass over the head of the roller pin but it'll be a fight. You could heat it up to make it pliable if you have the means to do so.
I've changed and adjusted a LOT of door hinges on vehicles of most all types;
This weekend I decided to fix the doors on the SR 5 as they won't stay open.
I don't know if the door stop was ever moved from one hinge to other other on the S 10 but it won't matter.
I'm pretty sure you can apply this info to any GM vehicle that uses a coil spring integrated with the door stop.
Dorman has a door stop assembly that includes a roller, the roller pin, and a C clip arrangement to replace the
staked end on the OEM. They do not sell one for the S 10 but I have heard you can perform modifications on the
one they do sell to work on the S 10 I believe you open up the holes in the hinge to accommodate the larger
door stop pin. The door stop pin has a small end and a big end. The small is staked (note the tip mashed by a press)
to help keep the pin in the hinge, the other end is knurled so it press fits into the other side
of the hinge and it's drilled to hold the door stop roller and pin. Most times if you need to replace the roller
you can, but you have to get the large pin out of the hinge and that requires the removal of the "mashed"
small end of the pin. You can do this with a file, (if you have one) a small cut off tool. I used a sawsall and
cut the pin in 2 pieces. The problem is that bit of metal your removing (the tip) is part of what keeps the pin
in the hinge. Once it's gone, well it's gone. If you have a MIG or TIG welder you can replace this metal or just
weld a bead on the end after you reinstall it to keep it in the hinge. You can buy GM replacement parts (I got my on
Amazon) too; so you can put a replacement roller pin and roller in the hinge, GM will tell you the pin will not
rust (no need for paint) and is designed to blah, blah, blah. I removed the small pin from the door stop pin
after removing the roller, this will require the destruction of the nylon insert in the roller. Just keep prying on
the roller; I worked a shirt pocket sized common screwdriver between the nylon insert and the pin to stretch
it out so it would pass over the roller, it'll be a fight but it can be done. I then had 1/2 of the door stop pin and
the roller pin. The roller pin can be removed and (probably) reused. I used a 8" adjustable wrench between
the top of the large pin and the head of the small pin. I opened my bench vise just enough for the large pin
to hang freely between the jaws and with a narrow punch and with the use of that certain big hammer we all
know and love knocked the pins apart. My pin is in pretty good shape; I'm sure it could be reused on the now
door stop roller pin but I have new ones on the way and I don't want to redo this job so I'll wait for the new pins.
So when you get your parts together assemble it,press the roller pin into it's home and install your overhauled
door stop pin and roller in the hinge and rehang your door.
Here's what you should end up with: a new door stop roller pin (large) a new roller, and roller pin. This is the used pin.
Here is the door stop roller pin I sawalled with the roller pin still pressed into the larger pin. You can see the new roller and the old one with it's plastic insert removed from the roller; it will pass over the head of the roller pin but it'll be a fight. You could heat it up to make it pliable if you have the means to do so.
Last edited by dna9656; May 8th, 2022 at 4:53 PM.
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