What size are the security nuts on door hinges?

Goatman

Goatman

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Went to take my full doors off for the season yesterday. Although it may be too early here (50* today). What size are those fool security nuts on the door hinges? 13 mm is too small and 14 is way to big. That rules out the SAE sizes too (1/2 &9/16). Dont want to chew up the paint on them, but is that the only way to get a socket to fit?
 
Mine look like the nuts were painted on. I would use a box cutter and tap lightly with a small hammer to scribe the junction all the way around before attempting to loosen the nut. If you have to use a loose fitting socket, make sure it's a 6-pt.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
Mine were 13mm but the paint made it hard to get the wrench on. Once you have the nuts off I wouldn't bother reinstalling them, they're not really necessary. My TJ's door hinge nuts are still in my hardware drawer where I put them 20 years ago.
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Wouldn't they help in a roll over? I mean keeping the doors on and the passengers in? Been debating this with myself since leaving mine off.
 
moab said:
Wouldn't they help in a roll over? I mean keeping the doors on and the passengers in? Been debating this with myself since leaving mine off.
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Only if the doors manage to open first could they lift up out of the door hinge. They are otherwise locked into place.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
Only if the doors manage to open first could they lift up out of the door hinge. They are otherwise locked into place.
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Once you get the nuts off you'll probably find the door pins don't exactly jump out of the bushings...

Besides, that's what seatbelts are for...

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I had my doors off a couple times and never thought about removing any nuts because what would they be screwed onto?

Then I came here and accidentally found out that there were not only nuts but also threads on the ends of the pins at some point.

Considering the bottom of my pins look kinda beat up I think the PO hacked them off with a special tool, you know, a hacksaw.
 
I actually have a gap between the top of the nut and the bottom of the hinge. But the nuts all have full paint and no indication of having a wrench on them. I've tried several 13 mm sockets (6 and 12 pt) and 4 different wrenches. The 14 mm is so loose that I think even a 6 pt socket will slip. Dont really want to grind/chip/chisel the nuts off. Was hoping a special tool was involved. But if everyone else has a 13 mm then I guess I'll just make mine fit too.😀
 
Anybody found any aftermarket nuts that would look and work well? Besides the security nuts from Quadratec? I think they run $25 for a set of 4. I found an acorn nut that fits. But it's chrome. And doesn't seat all the way to the hinge. Haven't called Mcmaster Carr yet though.
 
I found the cheap brand of wrench (13mm) from home depot was slightly larger than my craftsman wrenches and fit the nut with paint on it. I bought a single 13mm to keep with the jeep for doors. That was before I realized I did not really need to put the nut back on.
 
Perhaps I should just cut them off with an angle grinder. They all have small (1/8 to 1/4 inch) between the top of the nut and the bottom of the hinge. Although that may make it harder to reinstall the doors this fall.🤔
 
Goatman said:
Perhaps I should just cut them off with an angle grinder. They all have small (1/8 to 1/4 inch) between the top of the nut and the bottom of the hinge. Although that may make it harder to reinstall the doors this fall.🤔
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Use a small nut splitter.
 
Borrowed a 13 mm socket from a buddy with a WalMart tool set. Fit on easily. Didnt even scratch the paint on the nuts. Now, what is the best way to get the doors off the hinges? I've seen a lot of doors bent up from sticking s jack with a 2x4 on top under the door bottom. Suggestions?
 
Goatman said:
Borrowed a 13 mm socket from a buddy with a WalMart tool set. Fit on easily. Didnt even scratch the paint on the nuts. Now, what is the best way to get the doors off the hinges? I've seen a lot of doors bent up from sticking s jack with a 2x4 on top under the door bottom. Suggestions?
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Swing the door back & forth as you lift up on it. Spraying the hinges with a lubricant (which does NOT include WD-40) beforehand will make it significantly easier to lift the door out of the hinges.
 
Goatman said:
Now, what is the best way to get the doors off the hinges?
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My hinges were in pretty good shape but you still have to lift at the right angle or it will bind. I use one stabilizing hand and one to lift. If it does not lift easily I reposition the lifting hand to change the angle of lifting force.
 
Yup. That was all it ever took with the CJ7. But these dont want to cooperate. I'm thinking I'll get a budy to wiggle and lift and I'll put a punch on the hing posts and try a whack or 3 at the same time. The driver door does raise a 1/8" or so with the wiggle so I will start there. I dont think they have ever been off before. Dont want to unscrew the hinges and F-up the paint.😱
 
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