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According to Bruce W. Maki, editor of The Body Shop Zone, Chevy Blazer hinges and bushings have a tendency to wear out. This is especially true for Blazers made in the late 1990s. If you own a Blazer and have found that your vehicles doors are sagging, you may be tempted to take your car to the body shop to get your Blazer repaired to prevent further body damage. However, going to a body shop to get your hinges and bushings replaced isnt necessary -- you can fix your own hinges and bushings at home.
Step 1
Place your support next to the Chevy Blazers door that needs the hinge pins and bushings replaced. Drape the old towel or sheet over the support to ensure your car doors paint isnt damaged. Open the Blazers door, and place the door on your support.
Step 2
Place the small nail punch against the bottom end of the hinge pin. Hammer the punch so that the hammer blows cause the punch to push the hinge pin out from the hinge. Ensure your strikes are hard enough to push the hinge pin out from the hinge, but not so hard that you cause damage to the hinge or door.
Step 3
Secure the hinge pin with the vice grip once the hinge pin has been driven one-half to 1 inch out from the hinge. Hammer the bottom of the vice grip while continuing to hold the vice grip in place. The vice grip will ease finishing the hinge pin removal process. Discard the hinge pin.
Step 4
Place the large nail punch against the bottom of the top bushing. Hammer the large nail punch with the tack hammer until the bushing is forced from the hinge. Discard the top bushing. Place the large nail punch against the bottom of the bottom bushing. Hammer the large nail punch with the tack hammer until the bushing is forced from the hinge. Discard the bottom bushing.
Step 5
Place a bushing on top of the hinge bushing hole. If you are replacing the hinge pin and bushing for the top hinge, place the bushing with the smaller inside hole on top of the hinge. If you are replacing the hinge pin and bushing for the bottom hinge, place the bushing with the larger inside hole on top of the hinge.
Step 6
Place the vice grips mouth around the bushing. Close the vice grip. When the bushing is partially in place within its hole, put the vice grip down and place the large nail punch on top of the bushing. Hammer the large vice grip until the bushing is pushed into place.
Step 7
Place the remaining bushing in the bottom hinge bushing hole. Place the vice grips mouth around the bushing. Close the vice grip. When the bushing is partially in place within its hole, put the vice grip down, and place the large nail punch on top of the bushing. Hammer the large vice grip until the bushing is pushed into place.
Step 8
Insert the bottom tip of the new hinge pin into the proper bushing. If you are replacing the top hinges hinge pin and bushings, insert the hinge pin through the bottom bushing. If you are replacing the bottom hinges hinge pin and bushings, insert the hinge pin through the top bushing.
Step 9
Place the small nail punch on the hinge pins head. Hammer the nail punch with the tack hammer, driving the hinge pin through the bushings. The hinge pin is in the proper place when the hinge pins head is nestled against the bushing with the larger middle hole.
Place the hinge pins lock ring around the bottom end of the hinge pin. You will see a small engraved groove around the bottom end of the hinge pin -- this is where the lock ring belongs. The lock ring will ensure the hinge pin is securely in place.
Tip
- Consider having a friend help keep the door open and stable while you replace your hinge pin and bushings.
Warnings
- Park the Chevy Blazer on a flat surface.
- Make sure you put your Chevy Blazer in "Park" and that the emergency break is on.
Items you will need
- Support, such as a 10-gallon bucket, stool, small work bench, or jack
- Old towel or sheet
- Small nail punch
- Large nail punch
- Tack hammer
- Vice grip
- Notched prybar
