The thread on the lower hinge of the driver side front door failed

[FrankFrqnkFrank]

Took the front doors off for the first time in a few years, sad that it has been so long

The lower nut wasn’t there. And the hinge’s thread broken off. See picture

should I replace the hinge?

Do I even need the nuts?

I assume someone I let use it over tightened it - what is the proper torque spec?

thanks!

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[Biggy]

Those nuts came off mine the first day I bought it. They are not needed imo.

 

[DJPodratz]

I never use the nuts. Don't worry about it. The first time my doors came off I put the nuts in the glove box. In the 4 years I've had Vlad the Glad, doors have been on and off about 2 dozen times. Never thought about the threads or nuts until now.

 

[Blade1668]

I've not removed the doors on my Gladiator but my Wrangler the nuts were removed in 2005 and still in glovebox never reinstalled.

 

[Janster]

You don’t need those nuts…but I would check the lower half hinge to make sure the hinges & sleeve is good. I would put some sort of anti-seize (or anti-rust lubricant) on that post.

I take my nuts out over the summer and put them back in over the winter. I don’t want any ‘salt’ or grime getting inside the hinge to ruin the threads.

No torque spec that I know of. The nuts ‘bottom out’ and can’t go any further unless you literally force it (with enough force to break the bolt threads off).

 

[ConqSoft]

Also, if you remove/replace your doors a lot you may want to replace the sleeves with Delrin. This is the set I used:

Kentrol Hinge Liners (4 Door) 70002, Black: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

 

[DJPodratz]

Also, if you remove/replace your doors a lot you may want to replace the sleeves with Delrin. This is the set I used:

Kentrol Hinge Liners (4 Door) 70002, Black: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

Sound like a great idea, thanks!

The Amazon link says they fit 2007 - 2018 Wranglers. I assume they fit the JT, correct?

 

[ConqSoft]

Sound like a great idea, thanks!

The Amazon link says they fit 2007 - 2018 Wranglers. I assume they fit the JT, correct?

I used them on a 2020 Wrangler and they worked fine as well. The door hinges should all be the same in this range.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

I take my nuts out over the summer and put them back in over the winter.

Best quote on the forum.

 

[Blade1668]

Not a clear picture or clean area considering I was driving it on a dusty road last.

But about 20 years of not having the nuts installed.
I'll second on keeping the pins lubricated, I've used anti seize on them. I really should take my Gladiator doors off just to do that.

 

[Rusty PW]

Depending on where you live. Those nuts keeps the road salt out in the winter.

 

[brsnow2585]

First time I took my doors off, nuts went into the storage box under the back seat, and the hinge pins and body side hinge sleeves got a good hose down with dry silicon gun lube. Haven't had a door fall off yet, and the Jeep ratchet head is just a little too big to take those bottom bolts off without scratching some paint, unless you go real slow and careful.

 

[kennyglm]

mine broke off to, the same hinge as yours never gave me a problem so i didnt worry about it. If you pull up on the door i noticed it has more play than the doors with the nuts in place.

 

[agoldxj]

Replacing the hinge isn’t an easy task, to do it right it needs to go to a body shop to be painted after the new hinge is installed.

 

[insanitize]

I've had my JKUR for 18 years and I couldn't tell you where my nuts wandered off to. I removed them the first time I took the doors off and haven't seen them since.
I'm in NYC and I haven't had a problem with the hinges collecting salt or mud.

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