so as my luck goes, i dont have a torque wrench and the one time i put my door hinge pins bolts back on i overtightened it and snapped off the threaded part on the hinge pin on the right lower. so i went ahead and ordered some powdercoated RUGGED RIDGE hinges for both sides without hesitation since i already wanted too, also assuming they might be stronger. SOOOOO...... as i finished the first door which was the left door i got the first hinge pin bolt back on and went to the lower one and SURE ENOUGH snapped the damn pin again. i barely tightened it and i was using a tiny short little ratchet. i really need a torque wrench. SO, my question is, can i swap out the hinge pins???? they look like they can come out, but i figured i'd ask first since apparently im Herman Munster and break everything i touch, any input would help!!!

 

Ughhh not sure on the pin, but harbour freight is a good place to get a cheap torque wrench

 

If you've only snapped off the threaded portion, you can ride as-is. I removed my nuts the first day, and haven't replaced them. The door is sufficiently supported when closed by the gasket, so they really don't do much, except slow down theft maybe?

 

PS - don't make the same mistake I've made, and use a wrench calibrated in ft-lb, trying to achieve a torque shown with in-lb!

 

well im in northeast ohio, and they dump an incredible amount of salt and other crap on the roads in the winter, think it'll be a problem if that stufff is getting flung up in the open portion on the bottom

 

As much as those doors weigh you really don't need to worry with putting the bolts back in.

By the way, what in gods name are you using to tighten those bolts with....a breaker bar??

 

HAHA like i said i tiny little ratchet. probably 5 inches long. i would just leave it but im concerned about the winter months and stuff like salt getting flung up in the crevice.

oh and i did have to use a breaker bar to get the actual hinge bolts off, holy crap they were tight! i about almost had a hernia and crapped my pants at the same time

 

Many thanks for not posting a picture!

 

The nuts themselves don't look very robust for corrosion resistance. In the off season, I'd consider socking a grease-soaked synthetic rag portion, maybe a rolled up polyester strip made from a cheap sock, and plugging it with a nylon plug.

 

yeah ive been thinkin of putting something in there or something over it to cap it off, still got a couple months to figure it out.