How to rebuild you door hinges.
This is for 47-55 GM truck but may work on others.
Getting it apart,
Do not try to press out the pin damage to the frame will result 90% of the time. The pin siezes in the hinge arm and rotates on the frame. The pin is often broken. On a good hinge the hinge arm moves on the fixed pin. On the frame there are (2) 5/8" OD bushings spot welded. Use a die grinder and cut right through both of them. The hinge arm can now be removed,heated and whats left of the hinge pin driven out.
On the hinge frame you will see the holes may be egg shaped. If you do not have a milling machine weld and file the hole so the center is in the right spot BEFORE drilling oversize. make some new bushings to replace the ones that you cut on the hinge frame. The local hardware store shoulds have some mild steel 5/8 bar stock. Drill a hole for the oversize pin. A lathe is a big help but it can be done with out one.
On the AD trucks they have a oil hole in the hinge arm. I have some times spot faced them there and added a grease fitting
Adjust the bushing thickness so the arm will fit into the frame. Then assemble the hinge and place 2 or 3 small welds to hold the new bushings in place and your done.
Door hold open springs: The repop ones are heat treated wrong or something most will break in short time. A used original is a better choice and they still have breakage problems. If you buy repops get a few extra.
Update on the hold open spings: I've been told the problem has been corrected and new ones now should work fine.
Most rebuild kits come with some brass or bronze bushings throw them away they have too little contact area.
