Front MQ/GQ door hinges, again...

[grazza]

Hi all,

I have done the searches and there is a lot of stuff on the hinges, and stopping the clicking noises by replacing the hinges or machining the brass pin.

What I was wandering, is would there be an easy option to just "disable" the door "holding" effect (let it swing out) and stop the clicking? I will get new hinges eventually but I am a little cautious about the aftermarket hinges. My doors have not sagged and I dont want to screw that up if I remove the hinges. Is it possible to spin the brass pin around (to present a non-worn face) to stop the clicking? I have also thought of cutting/filing the edge off the curved metal bit which touches the brass pin.

here's hoping...

[grazza]

And while I am at it, would GU hinges work? Thinking that Nissan may have improved the design...

[Screwy]

if you dont want the clunking and want them to free spring open, all you have to do is pop out the spring with a screw driver...

the only thing is that you will prob knock your front quarter panels everytime you open the door....

GU hinges are different. GQ ones are the same

screwy

[V8Patrol]

if you dont want the clunking and want them to free spring open, all you have to do is pop out the spring with a screw driver...

the only thing is that you will prob knock your front quarter panels everytime you open the door....

GU hinges are different. GQ ones are the same

screwy

kewl with the screwdriver trick, but .......

The front hinges have a restricter setup that prevents the door contacting the front guard and its a seprate item to the roller plate and spring retainer.
The restricter is actually part of the hinge frame whereas the roller plate and spring are additional "added items" ( attatched with a big rivert)
The roller plate is designed to hold the door steady in two places or stages of opening...... one being near fully open and the other about half open.

If the hinge is forced past the restricter setup then it can be bent and that is about the only time that the door will contact the guard.....obviously once its bent then the door will continue to hit the front guard for ever after !

tip:
loose the spring as Jeff suggested.....
poprivert a short length of old seatbelt from the lower inner door frame to a corrosponding spot on the A pillar ( use large washers under the popriverts ).
This is a super cheap n effective way of making a door stop that will never creak and will stop the door from ever hitting the front guard incase ya restricters are allready bent.

Kingy

[grazza]

Thanks for that, will have a crack at it tonight.

When I do replace the hinges, do you think its an easy job for one person? I am worried that the weight of the door will make it hard to get it back in the right position.

I am tempted by the hinges for $50 on eBay.

Do the hinges develop this problem because of neglect or will it eventually happen to all of them over time? When I do replace them I want to look after them.

[Mintoy]

i beleive that all hinges will get worn donwn eventually. so dont worry about it. i dont suggest to take the springs out. resistance from the hinge will be avoit your door from swaying wide open. you might end up damaging you door and fender when your on an incline.

[V8Patrol]

When I do replace the hinges, do you think its an easy job for one person? I am worried that the weight of the door will make it hard to get it back in the right position.

Difficult enough specially for the novice doing em by himself..... its really a 2 man job.
If you have to do em by ya self then the easiest way would be to remove the front guard and replace one hinge at a time with the door in the shut position.

I am tempted by the hinges for $50 on eBay.

You wont get em any cheaper !

Do the hinges develop this problem because of neglect or will it eventually happen to all of them over time? When I do replace them I want to look after them.

The hinge just wears out over time. Supprisingly enough there is little you can do to prevent it from happening either, the sheer weight of the entire door hangs off of a small amount of brass machined into a bush..... once thast worn away then you have metal pin rubbing on metal hinge bracket..... bad just goes to worst !

Cheap way out is to remove one hinge at a time and then with a 4"grinder remove the top & bottom of the hinge pin.... and then smack the remaining pin out
After it falls apart ... and it will drill the holes out to a selected size...IE: the size of a bolt youve bought from the local hardware store ( I generally use 3/8 bolts but have on stuffed hinges gone out to 1/2 inch ) the bolts shank needs to pass fully through the front and back halves of the hinge.
Add two washers between the front and back half as you push the bolt through (you'll soon see where they need to go )....
cut the excess thread off and tack weld the bolt head to the hinge.

Add a coat of paint and ya done !

Costs around $2.00 for bolts for both front doors
takes around an hour per door.

This way they wont last for ever but you'll get a few years out of em atleast and for $2 who cares !

Kingy

[grazza]

Thanks Kingy, top stuff.