Hi i have 1985 308 which makes a nasty clanking noise every time i open or close the drivers door anyone got any ideas on how to cure this
Probably the hinge pins. They do tend to wear to the point that they are difficult to remove/replace. Each pin has a grease nipple - I would start with making sure they are lubed. Also, if the circlip holding the pin in place goes away the pins tend to ride up in the hinge which may require removing the nipples and applying (gently) a hammer.
Don't mess with the hinge pins. It is unlikely to be the case. The door stops (that mechanism which holds the door open at a certain position) does have a small pin at the pivot point. The original pin is thin and splits easily, then causes a nasty clank. You may want to inspect it and replace it if it is broken.
I have been dealing with this awful clunking every time I open or close the driver door. I figured I was going to have to remove the hinge pins. It turns out that the whole problem is caused by the roll pin that holds the check strap to the door. It was completely falling to pieces. A new pin fixed it and it was easy and took almost no time. My only complaint is that it took me almost five years to figure this out.
Aaron: Where did you get the replacement roll pins? Are they a generic NAPA part? Many thanks, Alan N.J.
I bought an assortment box for about $8 at either Lowe's or Harbor Fright... so now I've got another 8 replacements, plus another 48 varieties for friends and family with other cars I suppose.
Per the suggestions above I bought a box of assorted roll-pins at Harbor Freight for $4.99. The old roll-pin came out in two pieces (as expected). Tap-tap-tap...job done in five minutes...no more creaking door! Thanks, guys! Alan NJ.
Aaron, how did you actually get to the pins to replace them? The appear to be in a fairly inaccessible spot. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Word of caution. It’s very easy to chip the paint on the leading edge of the door when removing the upper hinge pin. Shop around and find a long narrow punch 12” or longer, or a piece of round steel stock the right diameter, take your time. Also helps to spray some penetrant on the hinge pins for a day or two before proceeding. To remove the lower hinge pin l jacked the car up on the driver side and was able to lay on the concrete floor and access it fairly easy. Also used a milk crate and several 2 x 4 pieces with a cloth under the leading door edge to hold the door at the correct height while I removed the pin.
My mistake. Quickly read the last two previous posts and I thought the discussion had turned to door hinge pins.
Good question. I ran over to the Ace Hardware and bought the closest thing. It turns out that it was a bit to large. I chucked it up in a drill press and sanded the OD down a little and cut it to the correct length. The sensible thing to do is to order one from your friendly Ferrari parts house. I think they cost ten bucks or so.
See that wire with the spade connector? See the check strap below that? See the roll pin holding the check strap to the door itself? THAT is what you are trying to remove. It shouldn't be that hard to get to. Mine had literally broken in half and I was able to pull out the remains with needle nosed pliers.
