My driver's side door drops down a bit when opened, and is very difficult to close. The roller bushing is obviously worn, and binding up as I open and close the door.

What do I need to do to fix this? Is it as simple as replacing the pins and bushings or could the hinges be physically damaged? Will a rebuilt hinge work like new again, or simply decent?

[This message has been edited by Xanth (edited 06-21-2008).]

Tons of info available on this topic. Here's a good thread. I'm about to do this same task myself.

Great thread, Thanks

silly, i have videos...
fiero door hinge pin and bushing 1of3 * 2of3 * 3of3

[This message has been edited by buddycraigg (edited 06-21-2008).]

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: silly, i have videos...

Heh heh, Buddy's got an accent. Great videos.

Question for you, Buddy - I know this info is out there, but in your experience, is it always necessary to actually remove the hinge from the door to replace the bushings? Not having to do so would certainly cut down on the amount of stuff to take apart.

I believe it's only the top hinge on my driver's door that requires bushing replacement, so I'm hoping my door doesn't have to come apart (or be completely detached from the car as in the method used in the previously mentioned link). Am I guilty of wishful thinking?

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-21-2008).]

If you have a helper and a box you can unplug the door connector at the body, remove the pins and remove the doors. Buddy's method is great if you are alone and can't get any help.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: silly, i have videos...

I feel so analog.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Heh heh, Buddy's got an accent.

I have an accent???

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Question for you, Buddy - I know this info is out there, but in your experience, is it always necessary to actually remove the hinge from the door to replace the bushings? Not having to do so would certainly cut down on the amount of stuff to take apart.

if you dont remove the hinge from the door one at a time, then you cant pull it out enough to change the bushings. unless remove the door from the car.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: I have an accent???

Oh, you better believe you do. Certain words you pronounce like a "Southerner". On the forum here we can read and sometimes see each other (in pictures), but we never hear each other. It adds a whole new dimension to hear how people talk (especially when they're from a different neck of the woods).

Thanks for the info on the door hinges. I thought perhaps there might be enough play to tip the door out while still connected to the bottom hinge to replace the top hinge's bushings, but I understand what you're saying. Sounds like a no go.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Oh, you better believe you do. Certain words you pronounce like a "Southerner".

i googled it, and it appears that i most likely have a "midwestern drawl" which seems southern to people up north, but is considered to be the easiest to understand in the spoken English world because the inflections are very mild.

cool.
I learned something today.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: i googled it, and it appears that i most likely have a "midwestern drawl" which seems southern to people up north...

Yeah, I just used the word "Southerner" as kind of a generic term. I wasn't suggesting you sounded like someone from Texas or Louisiana. Your accent is much milder, yet is still distinctive.

Interesting though that when I travel down through the three western US states, I don't really notice much of a difference in speech patterns with people from here in BC to those in Washington, Oregon, and California. There's certainly some differences, but we all sound kind of boring and ordinary here on the west coast.

som'on fetch me yander banjo.
I's got me a song to pluck

well this post is about a year late.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Question for you, Buddy - I know this info is out there, but in your experience, is it always necessary to actually remove the hinge from the door to replace the bushings? Not having to do so would certainly cut down on the amount of stuff to take apart.

It can be done, you have to remove the lower pin and put a very thin bolt in the bottom hole of the bottom pin.
Now the door will tilt away at the top hinge enough to work with it.

but i think it's easier to remove the door.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: well this post is about a year late. ...i think it's easier to remove the door

Now that I've done it, I agree.

Yeah, I didn't actually get around to it until about a month and a half ago. Our local Fiero club had a "tech session" day, and I got one of the fellas to balance the door on a piece of wood on a floor jack as I took out both hinge pins. It actually all worked out pretty easy to change the bushings and the pins in this manner. A whole lot easier I suspect than having to unbolt the hinges, one at a time.

Just prior to doing the job, I posted This at the local club's forum. Might be worth a chuckle.