Maestro doors

[edders1690]

I am in the process of restoring my MG Maestro 1600 and want to replace the front doors.
Tried to get the front n/s door off last weekend but couldn't get anything onto the top bolt of the top hinge due to its location.Is it a dashboard out job?
still scratching my head over this one so any advice greatly welcomed pse!

[KitBryson]

I've always found it easier to knock the pins out when removing the doors rather than unbolt them. Having replaced several doors on three different vehicles not removing the hinges (front) making it a doddle to refit. But I'm sure others will advise the unbolting way but I seem to remember that the top nut is quite recessed and needs a longer socket but that might be a fading memory of something else:o
HTH
KitBryson

[E_T_V]

It isn't easy to get at the bolt. Removing the glovebox can help on the nearside door. The offside one is the harder to remove I think.
As said above if you are just removing them then you can knock the hinge pins out, if you are lucky then new doors won't need aligning but most do

[threelitre]

The thing is, I did never manage to get the bottom pin into the hinge properly after knocking it out... So now the door hangs a bit and does not keep open at the slightest hint of incline. So - how do you put them back in again?

Regards,

Alexander

PS: it was not me removing it, it was a garage at a respray after an accident damage.

[talkingcars]

A long extension has worked for me every time.

I've tried knocking pins out before with little success.

Don't forget to remove the block of foam first.

[KitBryson]

The pins do need to be soaked with WD40 prior to attempting to remove but once you get a good strike and get them moving I’ve found they pop up quite well. There are two small bushes on each hole which can shear if you are unlucky in the removal process, it may be the reason the pins do not sit properly. As for the door not staying open there is a stay which is separate from the pins, I’ve never had need to remove those from the door itself so perhaps that has been damaged during the door being replaced. Or perhaps they aren’t on new doors!
Most people wouldn’t be lucky enough to get a door the same colour so it would need to be sprayed, leaving the original hinge in place saves that problem but you still would need to pop the pins on the “new” door assuming it came off a car with them on.
At the end of the day it’s whatever you find the easiest, now if the doors didn’t rot…
HTH
KitBryson

[steve smith]

well i was lucky enough the other day to get hold of 4 saloon doors in targa red for my vp all i did was drive out the pins which was easy just had to realine the hinge once door was on....