Front door hinge spring replacement

[Azn8ve]

Do not need to remove anything! You can get one end of the spring in place and pry bar to get the other side in. Sorry I can't explain it better, and it has been a while but I have replaced several this way. You're creating a whole world of work taking off the door. I know it doesn't seem likely possible but it is.

I found out this CAN be done without any special tools! (Just did it!)
Put the top part in place (just lower than where it finishes up) and let it hang out the bottom. Using a good screwdriver pry the bottom part IN TOWARDS the dash. Once in the groove... carefully (using a drift and rubber mallet) drive it slowly up from the bottom until it's in place ! Takes about 30 min but A WHOLE LOT EASIER AND FASTER THAN REMOVING THE DOOR !

 

[shiftpro]

I found out this CAN be done without any special tools! (Just did it!)
Put the top part in place (just lower than where it finishes up) and let it hang out the bottom. Using a good screwdriver pry the bottom part IN TOWARDS the dash. Once in the groove... carefully (using a drift and rubber mallet) drive it slowly up from the bottom until it's in place ! Takes about 30 min but A WHOLE LOT EASIER AND FASTER THAN REMOVING THE DOOR !

Yes you got it! It's a joke how easy it is.

 

[brooksman9]

Easy, but not too easy. Took about 30 minutes to do one today.

 

[brooksman9]

@DoubleDingo

 

[frwgt350net]

1-20-2026 my post was four years ago. Everything I said - ignore it - after needing to replace worn out hinge pins the best way without a doubt to replace either the spring or hinge pin or both is to simply remove the six bolts at the door and remove the door. Mark it first of course everything else I said was me being green.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

1-20-2026 my post was four years ago. Everything I said - ignore it - after needing to replace worn out hinge pins the best way without a doubt to replace either the spring or hinge pin or both is to simply remove the six bolts at the door and remove the door. Mark it first of course everything else I said was me being green.

I can respect that.

I read the whole thread and came across your old comments and was about to clown the **** out of you even if it was old. Mainly for spreading bad info but also then being cunty about it.

1- for being so confidently wrong
2- ford guy trying to get all tough and uppity about Chevys when he's completely wrong about the topic at hand on a gm website lolol
3- that SNOOTY ass attitude rubs me the wrong way.
4-just plain terrible advice. Don't remove any material from the spring OR bend it.

Just to be clear, the best option for return springs is to not remove anything. Also NOT a single thing you said in previous posts.


The proper way to do the spring is the prybar method with nothing removed. Slip in the slot, prybar in the spring, pry and tap with a hammer to get in place.

Hinge pins the door most definitely has to come off. Usually both sides of the hinge will have to get loosened to be adjusted anyways, so it all comes apart regardless.

 

[hip2bsquare]

ok so i need to do this on my '86 pass door. i bought a replacement hinge assy. but if i can get away with just replacing the spring.... well my question is.. how much "tension" are we talking about to "pry" and "tap" the new spring into position? assuming that it is "A little" less than a garage door spring! basically is it bad enough that someone could loose a eye or ?? (like christmas story tale)

 

[PrairieDrifter]

ok so i need to do this on my '86 pass door. i bought a replacement hinge assy. but if i can get away with just replacing the spring.... well my question is.. how much "tension" are we talking about to "pry" and "tap" the new spring into position? assuming that it is "A little" less than a garage door spring! basically is it bad enough that someone could loose a eye or ?? (like christmas story tale)

It's really not much, any mid length prybar will work.

 

[Turbo4whl]

ok so i need to do this on my '86 pass door. i bought a replacement hinge assy. but if i can get away with just replacing the spring....

It's really not much, any mid length prybar will work.

Or, a tool like this works great. Like the old square body trucks you can't buy it from the "Helps section" anymore.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Turbo4whl]

Or, a tool like this works great. Like the old square body trucks you can't buy it from the "Helps section" anymore.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

I posted this a couple times before and once a member said " oh that what the tool is for" He had his father's or grandfather's old tools.

 

[Grit dog]

I just saw this thread and remembered I hadn’t put th new door spring in the 86 yet and it’s actually in the garage not outside in the dark and rain.
Wow. Took all of about 5min!!