How to adjust a sagging door? | FerrariChat
Buy

How to adjust a sagging door?

Discussion in '308/328' started by flyngti, Sep 22, 2009.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. flyngti

    flyngti Formula 3

    Jul 16, 2009
    1,246
    Snohomish, WA
    Full Name:
    Eric L
    #1 flyngti, Sep 22, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I was noticing last night that my passenger side door is sagging a bit. It still closes and latches normally, but just doesn't line up visually. I opened the door and removed the black aluminum panel to access the door hinges, but it's not obvious to me how to do the necessary adjustment. On other cars, the hinges are bolted to the side and it's clear how to adjust the back of the door up-down. Since the 308 hinges are bolted to the back of the mounting point, the only way I see to make this adjustment is by shimming lower hinge from the body.

    Ideas?
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. jonesdds

    jonesdds Formula 3

    Aug 31, 2006
    2,163
    SB,CA & Park City UT
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    #2 jonesdds, Sep 22, 2009
    You may have some wear on the hinge pins. My understanding is they are softer than the hinges so they wear instead of the hinges. Replacement may solve the problem. I've got a similar problem but after reading the difficulties other's had replacing them I've not done it yet. May want to have a body shop do it for you. I'd start there but given the amount it looks off there may be other reasons as well. Good luck.

    Jeff
     
  3. 308nut

    308nut Formula 3
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 22, 2002
    1,881
    NOLA/Covington
    Full Name:
    Wade
    #3 308nut, Sep 22, 2009
    definitely your hinge pins, I have replaced several on 308's and 328's IT is a royal PIA to replace. The pin has to be beaten out with a punch. One Idea I had was to freeze the pin with refrigerant, it worked pretty good, the pin came out easier than the ones I did not freeze. But be careful, it is very easy to damage the door, ask me how I know, anyway good luck.



    Wade
    www.sportclassiccomp.com
    www.308qvregister.com
     
  4. flyngti

    flyngti Formula 3

    Jul 16, 2009
    1,246
    Snohomish, WA
    Full Name:
    Eric L
    #4 flyngti, Sep 22, 2009
    Bummer. I was hoping it was a simple adjustment. I guess I'll just add this to the growing list of things to tend to!
     
  5. pippo

    pippo Formula 3

    Sep 25, 2005
    1,913
    FL
    Full Name:
    pippopotemus
    #5 pippo, Sep 22, 2009
    Uh Ohhhh, dont like the sound of that. Dont let the list grow to long.
     
  6. rizzo308

    rizzo308 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 12, 2004
    2,782
    Perth, Australia
    Full Name:
    riggio
    #6 rizzo308, Sep 22, 2009
     
  7. flyngti

    flyngti Formula 3

    Jul 16, 2009
    1,246
    Snohomish, WA
    Full Name:
    Eric L
    #7 flyngti, Sep 23, 2009
    I just had a thought. Might it be easier to remove the door from the car by unbolting the hinges from the body, then remove the hinge pins? Better access that way. Either way, it sounds like a real PITA.
     
  8. Brian Harper

    Brian Harper F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 17, 2006
    4,078
    San Jose area
    Full Name:
    Brian Harper
    #8 Brian Harper, Sep 23, 2009
    The bolts holding my hinges in were so tight - and painted in place, as I recall - and the socket heads so cheesy that I wound up drilling half of them out. Luckily the bolts are fairly common. I shimmed a hinge to get by right now, but I need to do a hinge pin replacement also. I think door removal is in my future. But it didn't take much of a shim to get quite a bit of sag out. The door is a long lever.
     
  9. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Feb 24, 2002
    5,310
    Ventura, California
    Full Name:
    Robert Garven
    #9 robertgarven, Sep 23, 2009
    HA I tried this for weeks in the GT4 bulletin it says press so many kilos of pressure on the bottom of the door. I took the door off check the pins etc. I used a jack on the bottom of the door till the car started to lift, and chickened out!!! Good luck!!! :) I would check with a Ferrari body guy...
     
  10. f308jack

    f308jack F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2007
    4,300
    Cape Town, South Afr
    Full Name:
    Jack Verschuur
    #10 f308jack, Sep 23, 2009
    Yes, hinge pins worn or bottom one broken.
    Strange you guys had such problems getting the old ones out. Mine came out no problem, without the use of penetrating fluids etc..
    It does help that they were greased properly, but the design of the pin has a built-in weakness that makes it snap.
     
  11. chrismorse

    chrismorse Formula 3

    Feb 16, 2004
    2,150
    way north california
    Full Name:
    chris morse
    #11 chrismorse, Sep 23, 2009
    My 77 passenger door is sagging to the point that the top rear corner is just starting to hang up when opening. Don't want someone ripping off the door handle trying to get in.

    Looking forward to trying the replacement.

    Where have you successfull hinge guys sourced your pins??

    enthusiastically,
    chris
     
  12. f308jack

    f308jack F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2007
    4,300
    Cape Town, South Afr
    Full Name:
    Jack Verschuur
    #12 f308jack, Sep 23, 2009
    I had them made by a local machine shop, with some minor modifications: you want to change the position where the grease-hole exits the shank, as on the originals in my car they were right at the point where the hinge halves meet.
    There are always some on ebay as well.
     

Share This Page