Sagging Door

[Space Cowboy]

A door on my 68 is sagging a little. What is the proper way to adjust so it will close properly?

Thanks

 

[78SilvAnniv]

My driver door sags a bit and also won't stay open.
I believe I have to replace the bushings to correct the sag and the hinge s-clip (?) to keep the door open.
I imagine your 68 would be similar to mine, but since 68 was the first C3 year, and I know that many things are 68-specific, I hope someone who KNOWS will chime in with better advice than I could give.
Heidi

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I think you can also adjust the hinges. I think this involves taking the dash out of the car. Paintdaddy can tell yo for sure.

 

[JohnZ]

The up-down adjustment is done where the hinges bolt to the door inner panel reinforcement; you'll need to remove the door trim panel to access the bolts. Before you do that, make sure your hinge pin bushings aren't worn - they're usually the cause of door sag, not the hinge-to-door attachment. Open the door and reef it up and down at the latch end - if there's any up-down slop, the hinge pin bushings are worn and need to be replaced.

 

[Space Cowboy]

Thanks for the information John. Good call on the bushings. It looks like thats it. Any idea how hard or easy it is replace them?

Thanks!

 

[paintdaddy]

Ive done many of these and the others were right,its probably your door bushings.I usually replace these as a routine item during a paint job.You can adjust it for now but its only a temp fix.This is a super easy thing to fix unless you have power door locks or windows.

 

[76okievette]

I need some more info, I also have the problem of a sagging drivers side door on my 1976. I was going to just adjust the hinges but after reading this I decided to replace the pins and bushings, they are cheap from Corvette Central. My questions is can I replace the pins and bushings one hinge at a time with out removing the door? I do have electric windows but not electric door locks. I don't want to make it worse by removing a hinge pin and then not be able to get the new bushings and pin back in. I have instructions on how to adjust the hinges but not how to replace the bushings

 

[paintdaddy]

Its not bad if you have some one to help you.You cant do it with the door on,it must be removed.You will need to remove the door panel to get to the bottom door hinge bolts and the door access plate at the top to get to the top hinge bolts.After removing the bolts remove the accordian wire loom that covers the wire going from the door to the hinge pillar(body).Slide the door back ,using something to support the door and have someone hold it while you replace the door pins and bushings.The rest is self explanatory but heres a few items that will make the job easier,A center punch,aset of 1/4 sockets a die grinder,a hammer and a 1/4 extention.The worst part is that the upper door hinge pin will hit the fender before it comes out therefore has to be cut in half once halfway out.Another good idea is to take masking tape to the edges of the fender and the door to prevent chipping the edges up.Hope this helps.

 

[76okievette]

Great info as always PaintDaddy, I have a door caddy the holds the door in a frame that has wheels so I will use that, I did not know about having to cut the top pin, thanks for that. I will let everyknow how it went.

 

[cwerve74]

"The worst part is that the upper door hinge pin will hit the fender before it comes out therefore has to be cut in half once halfway out."

OK paintdaddy You got me interested. I was planning the same repair to my drivers side door. If you have to cut off the old upper door pin due to an interference problem. How do you put in the new one?

 

[paintdaddy]

good question...youve got two choices.The right way would be to remove the kick panel to access the bolts to the other side of the hinge,remove that part of the hinge,install the pins and bushings and reinstall on the body then reinstall the door.

The other way which isnt bad just different is to install the pin upside down .The splines on the collar of the pin will hold it in.Most of the corvettes I have done have been done this way and no one seems to care either way.If I were going to do a correct ncrs car it would definitly be installed right side up.