Stripped Door Bolts

[Macallan87]

I was taking the doors off for the summer and sure enough I get the to bottom bolt on the last door (front passenger side) and it seems like the bolt is stripped or cross threaded. When I use the provided ratchet the bottom turns with the bolt and tried everything I could think of with out any luck. Was wondering if anyone else has had this happen and any tips on fixing this?

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[trail-walk]

Of course, it’s always the last bolt on the last door!

You aren't dealing with a stripped thread. What's actually happening is a known defect with these factory hinges. That threaded stud is part of a pin that is press-fit/splined into the upper half of the hinge. That factory press-fit has failed. The pin broke loose from the bracket and is now just spinning freely inside the hinge housing along with your nut.

How to get it off right now: Have a buddy lift firmly UP on the door (or carefully use a floor jack with a folded towel under the door edge) while you turn the ratchet. Putting aggressive vertical binding pressure on the hinge will sometimes create enough friction to hold the pin in place, allowing you to back the nut off. If that fails, you have to try sneaking some needle-nose vise grips in there to hold the top of the spinning pin.

The permanent fix: That hinge is officially toast; there is no fixing that pin once it snaps loose. Since this is a documented issue, take it to the dealer. They will replace the entire hinge assembly under warranty (they order them bare and paint-match them to your body color). Don't waste time trying to re-thread it or glue it.

 

[Macallan87]

Of course, it’s always the last bolt on the last door!

You aren't dealing with a stripped thread. What's actually happening is a known defect with these factory hinges. That threaded stud is part of a pin that is press-fit/splined into the upper half of the hinge. That factory press-fit has failed. The pin broke loose from the bracket and is now just spinning freely inside the hinge housing along with your nut.

How to get it off right now: Have a buddy lift firmly UP on the door (or carefully use a floor jack with a folded towel under the door edge) while you turn the ratchet. Putting aggressive vertical binding pressure on the hinge will sometimes create enough friction to hold the pin in place, allowing you to back the nut off. If that fails, you have to try sneaking some needle-nose vise grips in there to hold the top of the spinning pin.

The permanent fix: That hinge is officially toast; there is no fixing that pin once it snaps loose. Since this is a documented issue, take it to the dealer. They will replace the entire hinge assembly under warranty (they order them bare and paint-match them to your body color). Don't waste time trying to re-thread it or glue it.

I appreciate the response! I’ll see if either of the off right now options work, if not I’ll just have one door until Tuesday when the dealer can take it in lol.

 

[ChrisB351]

The permanent fix: That hinge is officially toast; there is no fixing that pin once it snaps loose. Since this is a documented issue, take it to the dealer. They will replace the entire hinge assembly under warranty (they order them bare and paint-match them to your body color). Don't waste time trying to re-thread it or glue it.

Assuming he still has warranty

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