How to Replace the Door Pins & Bushings in a Chevy Tahoe

If the doors on your Chevy Tahoe contains pins and bushings--the exact type of hinges used depends on the year of the vehicle--those pins should be the only components you can personally work on, because the hinges are likely fused to the door. These pins can wear down over time and cause the door to sag, which can lead to damage to internal components in the door. Replacement pin sets include the bushings and rings you'll need with them, but you'll also need more tools and possibly an assistant or two.

Instructions

Removal

1

Open the Tahoe's door and have one or two people hold it in position with your replacement pins and bushings ready, or place a small bench underneath the door to support it, or both.

2

Look at both pins on the door and take note of which way the pins are pointed and how the bushings are positioned.

3

Pry the door's hold-open spring carefully out of the door using a pry bar.

4

Grab hold of the C-clips on each pin near the pin's "pointed" end using needle-nose pliers and remove the clips.

5

Drive each pin out of one hinge hole with a punch and hammer; strike the pin at the pointed end, whether it is pointed up or down.

6

Grasp the partially removed pin with vise grip pliers and strike the pliers with the hammer to completely remove it.

7

Strike and drive the bushings partially out of the holes with the punch and hammer, and pry them the rest of the way with the punch and a notched pry bar. Discard the bushings.

Installation

8

Place the bushing on the correct hole in the hinge and squeeze it partially in place with vise-grip pliers, then drive it the rest of the way in with the punch and hammer using sharp taps.

9

Insert the pin into the hinge bracket and drive it into place with the punch and hammer.

10

Place the lock ring for the replacement pin onto the hinge pin so it is seated within the groove at the pointed end. Drive the ring into place with the hammer and forked pry bar.

11

Compress the hold-open spring with a compressor tool and insert the spring in place on the door, between the detent mechanism and the door, then carefully loosen and release the spring from the compressor.