How to Change the Door Hinge Bushing on a 1995 S-10

The Chevrolet S-10 was introduced in 1982. The 1995 Chevrolet S-10 was equipped with a 2.2-liter fuel-injected in-line four-cylinder engine in the base model. A fuel-injected 4.3-liter V-6 and a throttle body injected 4.3-liter Vortec V-6 were both optional engines for the 1995 S-10. Over time, the opening and closing of the doors on the 1995 S-10 will cause the hinge pins to wear out. When this happens, the door will tend to sag and not open or close properly. Worn hinge pins and bushings can also cause damage to the door-latching mechanisms.

Instructions

1

Open the door that you are going to replace the hinge pin bushings on. Place a jack beneath the door, with a plank of wood on top of the jack. Raise the jack to the bottom of the door frame until the board presses against the bottom of the door. Do not push upward on the door, or hold the door by the outer door skin pinch rail.

2

Place a set of locking pliers onto the middle of the upper door hinge pin. Use snap ring pliers to remove the snap ring from the recess in the pin, just above the top of the door hinge assembly. Slide the snap ring upward to remove it completely or just to remove it from the recess. As you remove the hinge pin, the snap ring will slide off and fall free of the hinge pin completely. Remove the grease fittings from the old hinge pins if equipped, using a ratchet and socket.

3

Tap the locking pliers downward with a hammer, until the door hinge pin releases from the hinge. Unlock the pliers and grab the hinge pin by the head of the pin, which is at the bottom of the assembly. Tap the locking pliers with a hammer until the hinge pin is completely removed from the door. Do not strike the pliers hard, or you risk knocking over the jack and wood plank holding the door up.

4

Inspect the door hinge pin for severe grooves or metal-to-metal contact from the door hinge. If the hinge pin is grooved severely or bent at all, the hinge pin needs to be replaced. Pop the old hinge pin bushings out of the door hinge by tapping them outward with a hammer.

5

Place a light coating of grease or anti-seize on the new bottom hinge pin bushing. Insert the new bushing upward into the hinge pin mounting hole. Tap the bushing lightly with a hammer to assist it into the hole, if you cannot just push it in with your finger. Place a light coating of grease or anti-seize onto the hinge pin shaft. Insert the hinge pin upward through the bottom hole of the hinge. Tap the hinge pin about halfway up the opening between the top and bottom of the hinge.

6

Install the new hinge pin retainer clip with a set of snap ring pliers. Slide the clip downward past the recess in the pin, toward the middle of the pin shaft. Tap the hinge pin upward so that the tip of the pin slightly protrudes through the top hinge mounting hole.

7

Apply a light coat of grease to the top hinge pin bushing, and insert the bushing into the top mounting hole. Tap the bushing downward lightly with a hammer if needed. Tap the hinge pin completely through the upper mounting hole. Install a new snap ring onto the top of the hinge pin, using the snap ring pliers. Make sure the snap ring locks into the recess at the top of the hinge pin. Coat the entire hinge pin and bushing assembly with a layer of grease or anti-seize.

8

Remove the bottom hinge pin and bushings by inverting the directions from steps 2 through 7. The bottom hinge pin moves upward to remove it from the door hinge, and it is inserted downward for installation. Other than the direction of travel, the processes are the same.

9

Rotate the hinge pins to move the grease fitting holes so that they face you, if the new pins are equipped with grease fittings. Install the grease fittings onto the new hinge pins and tighten them snug with a ratchet and socket. Fill the fittings with fresh grease using a grease gun.

10

Lower and remove the jack from beneath the door.