I changed my door pin to keep it from sagging and I CANNOT get the spring back in. I tried prying it in and it just shoots out. Then I try using wire and that allows me to get it in places, but then I can't get the wire out afterwards. How do I remove the wires after I put the spring in place? HELP!!!

 

I took it to the dealer to get it back in.
They have a long crowbar looking thing that makes it real easy to install. Took the tech 2 seconds to install it.
I tried for almost 2 hours before giving up.

 

Damn. What did that cost?

 

It was $10

 

I've seen a cheap tool available to do GM door springs. I don't have one myself. I compress the spring in a vise then thread lock wire about 5-7 times around both sides of the spring. It has to be tight enough to keep the spring from opening. Insert the spring into the door then cut the lock wire. Chances are you won't get all the lock wire out but the spring will be installed.

Check you local auto parts store for the tool. It looks like a tiny Macpherson strut spring compressor.

 

Works like a charm.

http://www.top-downsolutions.com/pro...products_id=88

 

Whoa, 74 bucks for a hinge repair kit at TDS!

 

It is $250 for the parts from the dealer to replace your hinges. I would take $75 over that any day. The top door bushings aren't replacable from GM, you have to buy the whole top hinge($140).

 

That GM spring tool makes the job a cakewalk. Any competent bodyshop will have a man with that tool. My local Advance Auto sells them. I did both my lower hinges by myself for the first time in less than 1 hour - and that included completely removing them to grind off the bushing welds.

And although I've never seen ANY Thirdgen with the upper bushings worn, I'm sure it does happen. However, its usually the lower bushings that go bad first, and are much more common causing the familiar door sag. Pins and bushings cost me $12 at my local GM dealer.

 

alright alright, sorry to jump in this convo late, but its something ive been pondering for a while especially after i got my subframnne connectors, my doors are hard to close and heavy, i was thinking about buying upper and lower hingers to fis this, but someone told me a pin and bushing kit would work just as well, where do i get one, how do i install and its it worth it just for a garage to swap out my pin and bushing, cause thios tool you guys are talking about

 

GM only makes a pin and bushing kit for the lower hinge. Have someone pull up on the lower back corner of the door and watch for play in the bushings. The person lifting the door should be able to feel if there is play in the bushings as well. If there is play the door will feel loose. If it is the lower hinge and you haven't worn out the metal in the actual hinge you can just go get the hinge kit. If the top is worn out you either have to shell out $70 or $150, take your pick. As long as you have the door spring tool replacing the pin and bushings should take you way less than an hour. The dealer or TDS(link in my first post) has the pin and bushing kits.

On another note, if your hinges are good. Try closing the door with the window down. A lot of times it is the window alignment that makes the door hard to shut. If it shuts just fine with the window down you are going to have to take the door pannel off and start playing around with the guides.

On still another note, if it closes hard with the windows down and the hinges don't have play you sir have a misaligned door. Pick up this tool: http://www.top-downsolutions.com/pro...products_id=95

Loosen all the bolts, 2 of them are behind the kick pannel in the interior, and move the doors up a little bit. It will probably take you a few tries to get the door where it needs to be. This is pretty tricky to do and is even harder to do without the tool. It took me a long time to get my doors where I wanted them but it was worth it.

Wow, that is a super long post!

 

well must be both then, when the window is down iit closes easier, but still it like wobbles and drops low then shuts so i tlooks like both. advance aut makes upper and lower bushing,s and only upper pins, ill get lower pins somewhere. no the procedure is what again. to change these out. just curious

 

There isn't a pin in the upper hinge, so I don't know how they offer one. For the lower hinge:
1. Remove door spring safely(do not hit it out with a hammer or pry with a screwdriver)
2. Hit the pin from the bottom with a hammer to push it out
3. Remove the bushings, you might need a punch to get em out
3a. Have a Miller or Sierra Nevada
4. Install new bushings
5. Install new pin
5a. Have a Have a Miller or Sierra Nevada you are gonna need it if you don't have the spring tool.
6. Install old spring
7. Sit back and have a Miller or Sierra Nevada while admiring your door that now closes.

 

can i swap that miller for a samueal jackson mmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm bitchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh