The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Door Hinge Retainer Springs

OK, I flunked the test. I cannot figure out how to get those horse shoe shaped retainer springs in the top door hinges of my 1955 1st series. The shop manual description is poor. Is it just me or is there an easy way to get these springs in?

Only one way, you have to take the hinge pin out and disassemble the hinge. If you are going to do that and the pin is worn, might as well rebuild the hinge with new bushings and pins.

Pretty easy to do if you take your time and use a drill press. When you reassemble, you put the new springs in at the same time.

Thanks for the replies. The link discusses hinge pin replacement but doesn't really talk about installation of the springs. I have already rebuilt the hinges, just trying to get those darn springs in. Are the springs supposed to be in an "unloaded" state with the hinge strap in the wide open position? And then move the strap into position so that the pin can be installed? I can't seem to get the strap any closer than about 1/4" to the hinge pin hole. After that, the springs prevent any further movement. The springs are stiff.

I have one hinge on my donor cab that appears to still have these springs installed. I am planning to pull it off this weekend to see just how these are installed. I will take pics and send them to you either Sat or Sun. How to get them in there in the first place is also something I will need to know. The previous link gave some direction. Does anyone have the brown covered AD repair manual they can look this up in?

Try anything you want, but you will have to disassemble the hinge to install the springs.

afu, perhaps I wasn't clear...my hinge pins ARE out. I don't think it takes a whole lot of mechanical aptitude to realize the springs cannot be installed with the hinge straps in place. Do these springs install easily or not? Is there a trick? (other than removing the hinge pin).

Well I got both springs in on one hinge. They were installed with the strap in the closed position. However, the hinge box would not fit in the pillar opening. I moved the hinge strap to the open position and both springs broke! Is it safe to assume the replacement springs are inferior quality? I think I will be living without these springs.

Sorry to hear that about the hinge springs especially after all the hard work you went through to install them. Are you sure you want don't want to try another set.

Could you tell us the vendor who sold you the springs so we can purchase them from another vendor. Hopefully the other vendor doesn't have the same batch of parts.

Be sure to contact the vendor and let them know about the poor part quality.

Chevy1, there is always that possibility I put them in wrong but I think they can only go in one way. I bought the springs from ChevyDuty and maybe I will contact them...they have been very good so far and maybe they will make things right. I think the "made in China" label on the springs might have had something to do with it. I did buy two sets so I will try the second set and see if the springs hang in there.

I have 2 sets of those "Made in China" door springs from the same vendor around here some where If I can remember where I set them, I will check them against some of my other hinges which still have the original springs and see what the difference is if any.