Yesterday I received the Amazon pkg with new pins, bushings, and one spring. This is for my 2 door 2003 Blazer LS. I need some help in the process. I did a search and found some great suggestions dating back to Capt. Hook. He rec. using a pair of ratcheting nylon straps to hold the door in position . Suspend a rope from the ceiling joist in the garage. Loop the two nylon straps through the open window. Using the two ratcheting straps, you can adjust the height of the door. This tip is a big help since This is going to be a one person operation. Here are the parts I bought to replace the driver's side door: All for less than $27.00 including tax.

Delivered yesterday


Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Return eligible through May 29, 2021
$3.28
Condition: New
Sold by:

DEWHEL Direct

DEWHEL Direct

Product question?
Return eligible through May 29, 2021
$13.88
Condition: New

Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC

$7.99
Condition: New
I also read the Door spring tool is the essential part of making this a safe and smooth operation. Is anyone familiar with the Dewhel Co. who made the pins and bushings ? I got the standard size bushings and hope that is what I will need. The bushings can be standard, 0.010 over, or 0.020 oversized. I did get one Dorman spring. I have heard some bad things on the net about the Dorman products either not fitting or failing. So be careful. I will remove the spring from the passenger side if needed. It should be like new. Some have suggested using JB Weld or Brazing if the bushing holes have been elongated. Then carefully drill out the weld to the correct size. IF you have a link to a good writeup or some suggestions, they will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jim

 

If the holes that the bushings go in aren't damaged, the standard size bushings should be fine. The ratchet straps are a good idea to support the door. I've used an engine hoist with good results, too, but not everybody has one of those. Some Dorman products seem to be a little substandard, but I can't imagine they could screw up a simple spring, so you should be fine.

I used a bolt, a couple of washers, and a socket to install the new bushings on mine. You put the socket on the bottom of the hole to "receive" the bushing, then use the bolt and washer to pull it through the hole. Don't try to hammer them in.

 

Thanks, Tom A, i will definitely use the socket with bolts and washers to ' press in' the bushings.
I was just looking at the spring and it is mounted horizontal and way back in there. I don't see how the spring compressor tool will reach in there with the door mounted. T\he spring compressor device is bulky.

 

My tool is similar to that one. It doesn't look like it would fit but it does. You don't have to grab the spring all the way at the ends, as long as it compresses enough to get it in and out.

 

Eric O. from you tube's South Main Auto is constantly knocking the Dorman company. I liked the Dorman idea for coming up with problem solving kits for the DIY auto guy. A good example is the GM window regulator would go bad and you would go to the GM dealer to get a part to fix it. The dealer catalog had the entire expensive regulator only---not just the gear you needed. Dorman would sell you that gear. Problem solved.

I think my old springs are okay. It is the pins and the bushings that are worn.

 

Good info!

I've never had to replace the spring on any of mine. I did have to find one for my mom's jimmy tho. Just took any from the scrap yard I could find.

If I could find a kit that sells just the bushings and not the pins, I would be happy lol.

I use the front fender and the curve of the door to support it, and two jack stands. If your careful and don't have to bang away, the door won't fall. I've also used the arm of a floor jack to lean it against while on stands.

My next job is to repair the roler pin that the little arm roles on. The sonoma and moms jimmy both are broken. There's a good write up on that just recently that I gotta find, can't really remember from whom.

 

Don L. , I found my kit with pins, bushings and the compression tool at Amazon. I will look to see if they also have just the Bushings. I think you want the bushings and the 'C' clips retainers. They attach the pin in the position. Correct ?