Gladiator Door Anchor Bolt

[firemedic2714]

So I was watching a video on YouTube about Gladiator door removal. I'm waiting for my Gladiator to be built right now so I'm between Jeeps. In order to remove the doors on my '15 JKU, all I had to do was remove 2 bolts per door, unplug the electrical connection, remove the door strap, and lift. What's with the "door anchor bolt" (see photo)? Is this absolutely necessary and, if not, can I permanently remove it? It just looks like an extra step to me.

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[homerun]

Is that the door catch? In the past it use to be nylon and the door would fly open (all the way open). I think what you are looking at is what holds the door in the various open positions.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

That's the door catch to hold the door open. I assume you could remove it or retard it's function but at what cost? How often are you taking your doors off where this extra bolt is going to be a problem.

 

[Michael Harris]

So I was watching a video on YouTube about Gladiator door removal. I'm waiting for my Gladiator to be built right now so I'm between Jeeps. In order to remove the doors on my '15 JKU, all I had to do was remove 2 bolts per door, unplug the electrical connection, remove the door strap, and lift. What's with the "door anchor bolt" (see photo)? Is this absolutely necessary and, if not, can I permanently remove it? It just looks like an extra step to me.

I took my doors off and that thing sucked back in the door. It sucked balls trying to get it back out. Make sure when removing the doors that they are all the way open with that bar fully extended before removing that bolt and don't let it go back into the door.

 

[pkcal]

Only had my JT for ~36hrs, but my perception is there is some type of 'spring assist' on these doors that wasn't on my JK (didn't have a JL so might be old news to most of you). When closing the doors, once you get the doors started, there is a mechanical assist that helps accelerate the door closed. I assume this connection you're talking about undoing provides that spring as the hinges don't appear to be sprung in any way. I could be nuts here but sharing perception from a dozen or so door closes.

 

[firemedic2714]

That's the door catch to hold the door open. I assume you could remove it or retard it's function but at what cost? How often are you taking your doors off where this extra bolt is going to be a problem.

It's not really a problem. I took my hinge bolts off the first time I went doorless on my last Jeep and didn't put them back in until the day I sold it. It's a first world problem but it's just "one more thing" I have to do that makes me not want to remove the doors. Sorry to sound like a whiner.

 

[firemedic2714]

Is that the door catch? In the past it use to be nylon and the door would fly open (all the way open). I think what you are looking at is what holds the door in the various open positions.

No, there's a door strap, too.

 

[DanOnTheCob]

Link to video?

 

[avstech]

So I was watching a video on YouTube about Gladiator door removal. I'm waiting for my Gladiator to be built right now so I'm between Jeeps. In order to remove the doors on my '15 JKU, all I had to do was remove 2 bolts per door, unplug the electrical connection, remove the door strap, and lift. What's with the "door anchor bolt" (see photo)? Is this absolutely necessary and, if not, can I permanently remove it? It just looks like an extra step to me.

That bolt is for the door stop detent. It prevents the door from closing in the wind or when you are parked on an angle. Jeep added them when they went from the JK Wrangler to the JL Wrangler. Looks like they are coming on the JT too. From my personal experience with the JL Wrangler it only adds a couple more minutes to take off or put on the doors. Hope this helps.

 

[ewc23]

I took my doors off and that thing sucked back in the door. It sucked balls trying to get it back out. Make sure when removing the doors that they are all the way open with that bar fully extended before removing that bolt and don't let it go back into the door.

How did you get it back out? I am not having any luck right now. Didnt happen the 1st few times I took doors off but happened this time and cannot get them out.

 

[Texas_Gladiator]

How did you get it back out? I am not having any luck right now. Didnt happen the 1st few times I took doors off but happened this time and cannot get them out.

I used a pair of pliers and pulled it out just enough to be able to thread the very tip of the bolt into the hole, then opened the door slightly and it pulled the bar back out of the door. I've seen others say that you can also go to a hardware store and by a longer version of the same size bolt and use that to get it threaded and then open the door so it pulls out. Hope that helps.

 

[ewc23]

I used a pair of pliers and pulled it out just enough to be able to thread the very tip of the bolt into the hole, then opened the door slightly and it pulled the bar back out of the door. I've seen others say that you can also go to a hardware store and by a longer version of the same size bolt and use that to get it threaded and then open the door so it pulls out. Hope that helps.

No luck. I cant get it out far enough... and I tried the other tips I saw like pushing it all the way in to the 'closed' position 1st, opening the door latch when you try to pull it out, etc. Not coming far enough out to get anywhere near the bolt....Ugh.

Good part is I dont need it, until of course we park on a slope and my wife or kid let's the door slam on their hand... then I am dead

 

[Texas_Gladiator]

No luck. I cant get it out far enough... and I tried the other tips I saw like pushing it all the way in to the 'closed' position 1st, opening the door latch when you try to pull it out, etc. Not coming far enough out to get anywhere near the bolt....Ugh.

Good part is I dont need it, until of course we park on a slope and my wife or kid let's the door slam on their hand... then I am dead

Yeah, I'll be honest I am thinking about just taking that and the hinge bolts off the next time I remove the doors and leaving them off for good as others have mentioned.
One other tip I saw in a video that I forgot to mention was using a linchpin to get some better leverage for pulling it out. So, put the pin through the hole at the end of the bar, then use pliers to grip the linchpin and pull that way.

 

[ewc23]

Yeah, I'll be honest I am thinking about just taking that and the hinge bolts off the next time I remove the doors and leaving them off for good as others have mentioned.
One other tip I saw in a video that I forgot to mention was using a linchpin to get some better leverage for pulling it out. So, put the pin through the hole at the end of the bar, then use pliers to grip the linchpin and pull that way.

Thanks I tried something similar to get leverage but I am applying the amount of pressure I am starting to worry is too much. Will keep tinkering but not going to lose sleep... thanks!

 

[Troybilt]

I pushed the door catch into the door so I don't have to mess with the 4 extra bolts each time I remove or reinstall the doors. They suck back into the door frame just far enough as to not make contact with the paint. I have had a JK since 2011 and was very use to the doors not having a catch. I did not like the way the catch worked on the JT nor did I like the extra time it took to bolt them on and off.

I was able to pull the catches out pretty easy by placing a hook from a racket strap in the hole and pulling on the strap. I doubt I will ever have a need to pull them back out again.

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