Removal Procedure
- Visually inspect and restore as much of the damage as possible to factory specifications.
- Remove all of the related panels and the components.
- Remove any excess sealer surrounding the hinge.
- Scribe the location of the hinge on the hinge pillar.
- Lightly hand-sand the existing hinge with 100 grit or finer sandpaper in order to locate the 4 welds that attach the hinge to the pillar.
- Center punch each of the 4 weld marks on the original hinge.
- Locate and drill out all necessary factory welds in the rear body opening lower filler, using 8 mm (5/16 in) spot weld remover, in order to gain access to the backside of the lower hinge.
- Carefully pry back the filler panel.
- Remove rear body opening lower filler. If necessary, use a chisel in order to separate the filler from the opening.
- Drill through the hinge only at each punch location. Use a 13 mm (1/2 in) rotabroach hole saw or the equivalent.
- If necessary, use a chisel in order to separate the hinge from the pillar.
- Remove the hinge.
- Remove all of the remaining weld from the pillar surface in order to ensure a flush fit of the service hinge.
IMPORTANT:
Use care when removing the filler panel. The filler panel must be reinstalled.