Roller Bearing door hinge upgrade
Printed From: TheAMCForum.com
Category: The Garage
Forum Name: Body/Interior
Forum Description: Paint, glass, interior, rust, sheetmetal goes here.
URL: https://theamcforum.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68971
Printed Date: Apr/19/2024 at 10:23pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Roller Bearing door hinge upgrade
Posted By: B Pitt
Subject: Roller Bearing door hinge upgrade
Date Posted: Apr/06/2015 at 11:35am
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I did a search and didn't find anything like this already on here so I thought I would post this. A common problem we see in the shop is the door hinge roller becoming siezed or broken off or literally being sawed in half by the spring loaded arm. A fix we came up with years ago was to convert the factory roller to a cam follower bearing that is replaceable and offers a much better door closure feel. Here is the Hinge off of a 71 AMX that suffers from stuck roller. The door had a terrible squeek when you would shut it.  We removed the old roller and pin then blasted the hinge to mount it up in my hinge fixture. I use a 1/4 inch transfer punch in the drill press chuck to align the hole for drilling and tapping. After tightening the bolts on the fixture I drill it with a 17/64 Tap drill about 7/8 inch deep. Much deeper and you will go through the other side. Then I drill a step in the hole with a 5/16 drill about 3/8 deep and tap it to 5/16-24 with a bottoming tap. There is a shoulder on the bearing shaft so the step needs to be there.   The roller has a socket head on it so it can be screwed into the hole. Here is the bearing that I use. That number can be crossed to other brands as well. The bearing I use is about $15. Make sure you get the heavy duty one with the 5/16 shaft and not the 1/4 inch shaft.   Here it is on the car after repainting the hinge. The door action is much smoother but not so easy that the door will not stay open either. I do this mod on all cars in the shop unless it has to be absolutely original.  I hope this information helps cure others door hinge problems. I did it on a Drill Press but with some ingenuity it can be done with a vise and a hand drill. Brooke
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Replies:
Posted By: javamx1970
Date Posted: Apr/06/2015 at 12:11pm
| Thanks for the detailed steps and pics. Going to upgrade mine!! Thanks much!!! |
Posted By: george w
Date Posted: Apr/06/2015 at 7:48pm
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That is a great solution ! ------------- Long time AMC fan. Ambassador 343, AMX 390, Hornet 360, Spirit 304 and Javelin 390. All but javelin bought new. |
Posted By: Mopar_guy
Date Posted: Apr/07/2015 at 3:42pm
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Great write up! Thanks for sharing that with us. I've got this bookmarked now.
-------------  " http://theamcforum.com/forum/hemilina_topic95889.html" rel="nofollow - Hemilina " My 1973, 5.7 Hemi swapped Javelin |
Posted By: skymit
Date Posted: Apr/12/2015 at 11:48pm
| Good one! I wish I new about this before I did my door hinges. Would be good to get this post pinned. |
Posted By: Lucas660
Date Posted: Apr/13/2015 at 1:57am
| This is genius. Things like this keep me coming back to this forum. |
Posted By: fhpdave
Date Posted: Jun/11/2015 at 3:32pm
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I agree this should be pinned. I did this to the the passenger door hinge on my Ambassador and it is amazing how much better it works than the drivers door. I t was very easy since I had the door off of the car at the time. Using a drill press with a cross slide vise (although a regular drill press vice would work too), it too about 20 minutes to do the entire procedure and that includes the time finding the right drill bits. I am definitely going to do the drivers door before the car goes out to get painted. Thanks for the great tip.
------------- Old enough to know better - young enough not to care |
Posted By: maximus7001
Date Posted: Oct/07/2015 at 3:49am
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Where did you get the bearing? ------------- 1968 Javelin SST 1997 GMC Safari AWD 2001 Daewoo Nubira SX (Winnipeg only model) 1997 Honda Accord EX (Canadian Model) Winnipeg, home of the Jets. |
Posted By: fhpdave
Date Posted: Oct/07/2015 at 5:50am
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I got mine from Mcmastercarr.com but do a Web search and you can find other suppliers too. They also show up on ebay from time to time. ------------- Old enough to know better - young enough not to care |
Posted By: Scene One
Date Posted: Oct/07/2015 at 3:35pm
I agree this should be pinned great info!!! 
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Posted By: pherbert58
Date Posted: Nov/10/2015 at 9:48am
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Just got mine for a '72 Matador Police Enforcer restoration. Preeeeemo recommendation BPitt. Works better than OEM!
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Posted By: jave71
Date Posted: Mar/05/2016 at 5:10pm
| ill be doing this to mine next week. how did you remove the old pin? |
Posted By: fasttony
Date Posted: Mar/05/2016 at 5:32pm
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There is an article about that on this forum. http://theamcforum.com/forum/roller-bearing-door-hinge-upgrade_topic68971.html" rel="nofollow - http://theamcforum.com/forum/roller-bearing-door-hinge-upgrade_topic68971.html
Tony
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Posted By: jave71
Date Posted: Mar/05/2016 at 5:41pm
| thanks .i read the article . just wondering if the pin is press in? and how did you remove it |
Posted By: fasttony
Date Posted: Mar/05/2016 at 9:08pm
| PM member B Pitt. |
Posted By: B Pitt
Date Posted: Mar/08/2016 at 10:47am
Sorry this took so long to post, I recently updated my computer to the newest windows version and now I cant figure out how to work anything! I went back and did this on my old laptop with the older version I know how to work. I use as small bearing remover and support it on some machining blocks. I fabricated a driver out of some 1/8 by 1 1/2 flat stock. I hope this helps, I apologize for not putting this in the thread originally.   |
Posted By: jave71
Date Posted: Mar/08/2016 at 7:44pm
| thanks b pitt |
Posted By: bbgjav
Date Posted: Mar/09/2016 at 7:14am
| Very nice work, I enjoyed reading this thread. |
Posted By: fasttony
Date Posted: Mar/09/2016 at 1:51pm
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I liked the thread so I saved it and bought a pair of the bearings listed, when I get to cleaning up my hinges I will upgrade. A tight smooth operating doors gives a car that quality feeling like when it was new.
Thanks
Tony
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Posted By: White70JavelinSST
Date Posted: Mar/09/2016 at 1:57pm
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So far the nearest match I can find to what I assume is the correct cam follower/track roller is from McMaster Carr the part number is 1470 T13 for $24.32. It has a 5/8 diameter roller 7/16" thick, the stud is 5/16-24 thread, 3/4" long, it has a shoulder 1/32 thick that is 15/32" in diameter. I assume the 1/32 shoulder aligns the roller in the correct position for the cam to ride on it. I'd appreciate if someone would chime in hear and let me know which one is correct if this isn't. B Pitt said the ones he bought were about 8 bucks cheaper. Thanks, Armand ------------- 70 Javelin SST, second owner, purchased 1972 |
Posted By: fasttony
Date Posted: Mar/09/2016 at 2:32pm
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White70JavelinSST
I bought a pair of the McGILL CFH 5/8-SB same as shown in the other thread, your measurements match the McGILL brand. A little shopping around might get you a better price, I bought a pair off of ebay for half of the McMaster price in December.
Tony
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Posted By: PROSTOCKTOM
Date Posted: Nov/13/2018 at 12:17am
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Better yet McGILL CFH 5/8-SB for $11.45 each on eBay with free shipping. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-MCGILL-CFH-5-8-CAM-FOLLOWER/153085548289?hash=item23a49c1701:g:LzUAAOSwHJhXNeAW:sc:USPSPriority!47803!US!-1:rk:19:pf:0" rel="nofollow - http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-MCGILL-CFH-5-8-CAM-FOLLOWER/153085548289?hash=item23a49c1701:g:LzUAAOSwHJhXNeAW:sc:USPSPriority!47803!US!-1:rk:19:pf:0 Personally I wonder if using this bearing that doesn't have an end seal has any issues. I saw on McMaster Carr that this bearing can be had with an end, but no illustration was shown. Tom |
Posted By: Mopar_guy
Date Posted: Jan/14/2023 at 1:17pm
Thought I would bring back this old post so newer members could see it. I put new bushings in the 71 that I'm working on and the drivers side roller was messed up. I snapped of the pin trying to remove it so I thought I would try this upgrade that I had saved years ago. Thanks to the OP because this works perfectly! I found a follower for $14 including shipping on eBay. Well worth it to me. It'll never wear that follower out and the door closes smoother with it in there.  ------------- " http://theamcforum.com/forum/hemilina_topic95889.html" rel="nofollow - Hemilina " My 1973, 5.7 Hemi swapped Javelin |
Posted By: PROSTOCKTOM
Date Posted: Jan/14/2023 at 4:04pm
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Here's an eBay ad for two McGill bearing for $9 plus $8 shipping. $17 for a pair and the seller has 8 lots available. Buy them while they last. I might have to buy a pair for myself. https://www.ebay.com/itm/233337664139?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AeTuncraP6yPbQgZ2aLiWAthQXSGil7STy2HppUBKwKOviSpQE_kSdghcCg" rel="nofollow - https://www.ebay.com/itm/233337664139?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AeTuncraP6yPbQgZ2aLiWAthQXSGil7STy2HppUBKwKOviSpQE_kSdghcCg
Tom ------------- Molnar Technologies Full Service Dealer - Crankshafts & Connecting Rods 1969 AMC Rambler Rouge Race Car 1974 AMC Hornet Hatchback, Wally Booth Outlaw Nostalgic Pro Stock Race Car Project |
Posted By: White70JavelinSST
Date Posted: Jan/15/2023 at 3:23pm
Thanks for the heads up Tom, I ordered two, can't go wrong for that price. ------------- 70 Javelin SST, second owner, purchased 1972 |
PROSTOCKTOM wrote: