Saggy Door Fix
10-10-2011, 07:23 AM
#41
The spoonfeeding baby is in my image gallery... go play.Ohai.
10-10-2011, 07:29 PM
#43
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Florence, SC
Posts: 71
Just wanted to throw my two cents in here while this was still on the front page. I actually found this while searching my problem a few months back. Sure enough, this little cheap trick worked and is still holding two months down the line. I fact it works so well that I forgot about it until I saw this thread on the front page.
If you're having trouble with your hinges try this first. I was scared at first to put the washers in because you have to take the door pretty much off of that bottom hinge but it's really not bad. If I can do it then anybody can
If you're having trouble with your hinges try this first. I was scared at first to put the washers in because you have to take the door pretty much off of that bottom hinge but it's really not bad. If I can do it then anybody can
11-11-2011, 11:47 PM
#45
11-18-2011, 11:32 AM
#46
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lawrence, KS
Posts: 28
Ugh, why didn't I even think about doing this before? This has always bothered me about my driver's side door. Glad to know there are simple solutions out there. One of us just has to put it to paper (.org). Thanks for making my brain work.
05-04-2012, 12:51 PM
#47
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 5
My sagging door
I tried posting a reply to this but it came up on a different page or thread or whatever??? but just wanted to Thank NismoAce for the info on putting washers on nthe bottom hinge. I thought it would just misalign the door but it didn't. It worked perfectly. Quick easy fix and closes like new.
Thanks again Dave
Thanks again Dave
05-04-2012, 01:22 PM
#49
I finally replaced the door hinges last night on my maxima... the best "mod" I have ever done... for everyone out there just replace the hinge and be done with once you take the old hinges out and inspect them you will understand why I decided to replace them vs trying washes or other methods... Do it once, do it the correct way just my $.02
05-04-2012, 08:47 PM
#52
I tried posting a reply to this but it came up on a different page or thread or whatever??? but just wanted to Thank NismoAce for the info on putting washers on nthe bottom hinge. I thought it would just misalign the door but it didn't. It worked perfectly. Quick easy fix and closes like new.
Thanks again Dave
Thanks again Dave
08-11-2012, 08:09 AM
#53
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Thanks to the good ideas on this site I tried taking a couple of those red garden hose washers (to keep hose from leaking) and made a cut to allow the washer to be put in place without taking the door off. I loosened the bottom hinge nuts almost completely off with a 12mm open end wrench. May need a rubber hammer to get the nut started (tap down to loosen). Before all that I opened the door all the way and placed a jack with wood blocks under the door and jacked it up just enough to take all the weight off but not lift the car much. Once the nuts were loose on bottom hinge only I slipped the cut washer behinde the hinge between door and hinge and re-tightened. Tightened the nuts back up, released the jack and Thud went the door. It now hangs very nicely and no worry about rust. Time 5 min, cost under $1.
08-13-2012, 03:28 PM
#55
About two and a half years since I posted this and My door is still perfect. I have a feeling if I would have replaced it with a brand new hinge I would be back at square one with a saggy door. The part prob has give and once its gets to that point it dont give anymore so the washer is the perfect fix.
08-14-2012, 05:50 PM
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 1,528
This pic is showing the measurement of the washer..the washer has a blue mark on it since it's kind of hard to see with all the grease
This is before the washer fix
This is after the fix...put a washer on both the top and bottom hinge stud.
Last edited by 2brosgixxer; 08-14-2012 at 05:54 PM.
08-14-2012, 06:11 PM
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 1,528
09-07-2012, 01:43 PM
#63
word could prolly dremel the washer so its a horseshoe shape, and then you can jsut loosen the door and just slide the washer in place rather than take the hinges all the way off the studs.
09-07-2012, 01:59 PM
#65
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 235
i was sitting here twiddling thumbs and ran across this thread. i went in garage found some garden hose washers. i cut a slit in them, loosened then bottom 2 nuts, then put alittle pressure on door with jack. i dont think it even took 5 mins and door shuts like new
09-07-2012, 07:37 PM
#66
...you inspired me to go see what I had in the garage. I've been contemplating doing this for years but never had enough motivation.
Found some lock washers, unbolted bottom hinge, supported with stool, small 2x4 and then slowly removed top bolts and kept adding shims until the lower two bolts came out of the hinge. Slid on the lock washers, then slower removed the shims a couple at a time until I could tighten the top bolts up, then removed all support and let the door back on the lower hinge. Tightened all 4 bolts and voila' 15 mins later no more sag.
Not to mention, 2brosgixxer thanks for the pictures. That always inspired me.
"Picture Pages, Picture Pages, Time to get your Picture Pages, Time to get your crayons and your pencils..."
09-08-2012, 09:34 AM
#67
my bad for my lack of memory or whatever, i had this thread read last night but i was on a few xanex and my short term memory is **** on them. ive never taken our door off the way thats being discussed in this thread. ive done it to many other cars tho where the bolts werent self centering, which once you take the door off it takes half-hour to an hour sometimes of loosening-aligning-tightening to get the door back on correctly.
09-08-2012, 09:38 AM
#68
right. but it seems like people are unbolting the entire door at the hinges, moving it out to put the washers in their correct places, and then bolting the door back up, which would result in some pain in the *** time re-aligning the door no? or wait the studs for the hinges are tapered and self centering it says in this thread right?
my bad for my lack of memory or whatever, i had this thread read last night but i was on a few xanex and my short term memory is **** on them. ive never taken our door off the way thats being discussed in this thread. ive done it to many other cars tho where the bolts werent self centering, which once you take the door off it takes half-hour to an hour sometimes of loosening-aligning-tightening to get the door back on correctly.
my bad for my lack of memory or whatever, i had this thread read last night but i was on a few xanex and my short term memory is **** on them. ive never taken our door off the way thats being discussed in this thread. ive done it to many other cars tho where the bolts werent self centering, which once you take the door off it takes half-hour to an hour sometimes of loosening-aligning-tightening to get the door back on correctly.
Drove to a parking garage because its wide open and level.
Used a floor jack, lift up the drivers door with the two 12 mm nuts removed from the lower hinge. Once the door/car started to lift up I loosened the nuts from the top hinge. After a raising the door a bit more, the door came free from the hinge and allowed me to pop on the washers.
Lower the door SLOWLY until I was able to get the bottom hinges nuts back on, then tightened everything down.
09-08-2012, 09:44 AM
#69
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 235
^^^ i thought about doing it that way but was worried that id have to tilt the door so much to get the lower studs out, that it would damage the little plastic arm in middle of the door. i was too lazy to go get more tools to remove that
09-08-2012, 09:45 AM
#70
oh so youre only taking the lower hinge bolts completely off? and then youre loosening the top and jacking the door up on an angle till only the bottom hinge comes off the studs? i got it. and the studs are tapered right so they self center when you tighten the nuts back down?
one question, when you jack your door up until the car starts to lift, arent you afraid of doing damage to your door skin? those things are literally sheet metal.
one question, when you jack your door up until the car starts to lift, arent you afraid of doing damage to your door skin? those things are literally sheet metal.
09-08-2012, 09:47 AM
#71
with the method hes saying, and the concern you have(due to the fact that its hard to tell what youre talking about as far as little plastic arm) but everyone should probably just unbolt their check strap before doing this. its something that could definitely bend and would hold your door back from getting up on the angle you want it to.
09-08-2012, 09:54 AM
#72
You just lift using the jack slowly and once the door comes free from the lower hinge stop. I seen someone mention here to remove that little black arm but I didn't want to.
Probably sounds or looks way worse than it actually is.
Probably sounds or looks way worse than it actually is.
09-08-2012, 10:05 AM
#73
oh i feel you completely. i just always use my knee and another persons help when maneuvering a door, never a jack for fear of messing up a brand new doorskin!
but yeah unbolting that check strap would probably make the job easier on you, and theyre beyond easy.
but yeah unbolting that check strap would probably make the job easier on you, and theyre beyond easy.
11-30-2014, 10:34 PM
#74
Can't find a dang pin anywhere
Just bought a 2000 se knowing the hinge was worn a bit. Didn't care too much. Its becoming a pain in my ***, considering no one carries a pin. Just wanted to know how it worked out over the past two years cause I have washers on hand and might attempt this fix
02-13-2021, 05:10 AM
#76
door sag 4th gen
ok so I'm posting here to let people know what a pain in the *** this is to do alone with a jack. I probably should have done more reading before fixing my driver side sag, I didn't realize you may only have to loosen the bottom 2 nuts and slide a washer in and be done. I can tell you that that approach will most likely fix the door sag. What I did was, purchased 2 door hinges and thought I can do this opening door all the way and access the bolts without much effort...( read some misguided info and I admit I didn't read enough before attempting this ) WRONG! I had to partially remove the quarter panel just to get at the bolts, used 2 jacks, and ladder with a large brick to hold the door where I needed, yup! I had to be creative.. 3 hours later I changed both door hinges to still have a freaking door sag!! I was pissed .. and I didn't see a picture someone posted here in this thread that was the most helpful since pictures speak a million words.
Ultimately, I found a video on youtube of someone using a wood 2x2 and jamming in the bottom corner of the door and slowly applying pressure, closing the door.. ( do this slowly ) and BOOM! that fixed my issue. I can see that doing this raised the door back in alignment where it needed to be. After 3 hours changing both door hinges, I fixed the issue in a few minutes after watching the youtube video. This pretty much does the same thing as adding washers on the bottom of the door hinge. I bent a little bit of the side framing on the door but you can't see anything since you have to take off the inside door panel to do this.. if you do this without taking off the door panel then you will surely mess something up. So there you have it!.. take whatever approach you feel will fix your issue but in my opinion, using the wood is easier than messing with the bolts for the door hinges; its much easier to take off the door panel than messing around with the door hinges. I hope this helps someone else out there. Peace.
Ultimately, I found a video on youtube of someone using a wood 2x2 and jamming in the bottom corner of the door and slowly applying pressure, closing the door.. ( do this slowly ) and BOOM! that fixed my issue. I can see that doing this raised the door back in alignment where it needed to be. After 3 hours changing both door hinges, I fixed the issue in a few minutes after watching the youtube video. This pretty much does the same thing as adding washers on the bottom of the door hinge. I bent a little bit of the side framing on the door but you can't see anything since you have to take off the inside door panel to do this.. if you do this without taking off the door panel then you will surely mess something up. So there you have it!.. take whatever approach you feel will fix your issue but in my opinion, using the wood is easier than messing with the bolts for the door hinges; its much easier to take off the door panel than messing around with the door hinges. I hope this helps someone else out there. Peace.
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4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
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