Driver's door won't stay open

rjirvine · October 24, 2005

The driver's door on my 97 truck won't stay open. The pin that has the roller on the bottom where the corrugated metal piece that is pushed by the spring is broken off. It looks like the pin pushes up from the bottom if the roller isn't attached. So I'm thinking the roller goes into the pin after the pin is installed. Has anyone ever replaced this? It looks like a real PAIN!

Mr. Smith · October 25, 2005

I never done one of those but it is available at the dealer if I remember correctly. Yoy may have to take the door off the hinges to give you room to work. While you have the door off replace the bushins and pins They get alot of use and little lubrication.

There is a spring compressor for that door spring. And dont use a floor jack to hold the door. That is a stupid thing to do. Use a engine hoist and a couple cargo straps.

The driver's door on my 97 truck won't stay open. The pin that has the roller on the bottom where the corrugated metal piece that is pushed by the spring is broken off. It looks like the pin pushes up from the bottom if the roller isn't attached. So I'm thinking the roller goes into the pin after the pin is installed. Has anyone ever replaced this? It looks like a real PAIN!

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rjirvine · October 27, 2005

Well, The part from the dealer is $35. I told him to hang on and I'd see if i could find one elsewhere (prob not). I used a hacksaw blade and cut the top off, and punched the pin out from the top. The new assy is held in with some kind of keeper, maybe a snap ring...i'll keep everyone posted.

rjirvine · October 30, 2005

I got the part from the dealer and painted it with some touch-up paint from wal-mart. I pounded it in from the bottom with a 3/8" extension and hammer. It took about 4 blows. I didn't want to take the door off to put the new spring in, so I took a ford wrench and tightened it down to compress the spring (being careful, i put a rag over it it case it decided to try and bounce into my eye), then I used some safety wire and wrapped it thru the spring about 4 times, and took it out of the wrench. I placed it where it needed to be in the door hinge, and snipped the wire to expand the spring (I had about 1/16" clearance). Then I used dykes and needle nose pliers to pull the wire out. The whole process took about 15 minutes. Sometimes I suprise even myself! The door is now fixed....