Sagging doors

[l79m20]

Has anyone on this forum ever used a Shim-EZE on a 1980 Chevrolet 1/2 ton to repair the typical sagging door and if so how satisfied with the results are you?

[tucsonjwt]

I have not used them. Do you have bad door pins? That has always been my problem.

[l79m20]

That's the problem the pins are worn out and I happened to see a youtube on these shimeze shims for chevy trucks and they are really easy to mount 15 minutes are less.

[wilkin250r]

And technically, it's not the door PINS that are usually the problem, it's the door BUSHINGS.

I've never tried the Shim-EZE, but I recently replaced the door pins and bushings on my F*rd. And I can tell you, once those bushings really started to wear and the door began to sag, it was a quick downhill spiral. I think if you shim the door and continue to wear into those same bushings, you're gonna just be adding thicker and thicker shims every year or two.

[RandyP]

Those are a bandaid it looks, at best. They'll make it where when you get serious about trying to do pins and bushings, you'll end up needing complete hinges because the holes where the bushings go are so demolished even oversized bushings won't work.

At least the squarebody style has bolt on hinges, GMT400, GMT800 they started welding the hinges on making hinge replacements a BEAR. When the bushings disappear and the hinge pin starts making the hole oblong, that's when the real damages happen. Either have weld the holes up and redrill or replace the hinge completely. Meaning $$$$$$

But with the GMT900 the bolt on hinge is back!

[flatbed82]

Put pins and bushings in the hinges, you can get the pins and bushings from a parts store for one door for under $12.

[tucsonjwt]

That is correct - bushings are the issue, but I think pins and bushings should be replaced at the same time.

Search for door pins on this forum and you will find a short tutorial I did on replacing the pins and bushings. I have power windows/locks, so that required removing the door panels to access the wiring to disconnect it. Even with no experience, it took me about an hour per door to complete the project. I built a support out of old 2 x4s to support the doors during the R+R.

I would only use the correct GM parts - still available from your GM dealer. My tutorial has the part numbers. I think they are packaged in bags of 10 pcs. and 5 pcs (I forget which one is which), but you can buy them in units of each if you want - but shipping cost will be the same.

[1774btcrew]

Something to also consider, is that these doors are known for cracking by the hinges from being over extended. This will also create problems

[bilfman]

I just did my bushings and hinges. Pretty straight forward and easy.

[slotard]

Originally Posted by 1774btcrew

Something to also consider, is that these doors are known for cracking by the hinges from being over extended. This will also create problems

I forget exactly where the crack is, but I know there's a crack somewhere on my driver's side (which closes easily) but not on my passenger side (which needs a heavy slam).

[walkerb]

Pex on the latch helps also