How to Replace the Door Hinge Pins for a 1994 Mercury Cougar

When the door becomes loose or starts to sag on a 1994 Mercury Cougar, the door's brass bushings are to blame; the door must be lifted in order to match the door latch with the striker. The door hinge repair kit comes with two door pins and four brass bushings per door. The hinges can be replaced by the average DIY mechanic, although the task is easier done with the help of an assistant.

Things You'll Need

• Floor jack
• Hammer
• Drift
• Flat-head screwdriver

Instructions

1. Lower the window. Open the door all the way and place the floor jack under the middle of the door. Raise the floor jack just enough to begin to lift the door.

2. Hammer the door pins up and out of the door hinges. Use the drift, if necessary, to get more impact on the pins.

3. Support the door with one hand and move it away from the hinges just enough to extract the brass bushings. Use the screwdriver to remove the bushings.

4. Install the new bushings in place of the worn bushings, then ease the door hinges back over the frame hinges, making sure that the bushings stay in place. This is the hard part. Use the floor jack, as necessary, to level the door; watch that you do not scratch the paint on the door by allowing it to contact the corner of the fender.

5. Align the door-hinge holes. Insert the new door hinge pins through the holes and the bushings. Use the drift and hammer to tap the door hinges pins all the way down.