Came up with a process to simply and cheaply save and upgrade our early OEM tailgate hinges.
Pressed out the pins from the bottom up and chucked them in the drill press for a cleanup with emery cloth.
Set the hinge up on the drill press and re-bored the hinge pin opening from 3/8 to 1/2 dia, drilled out very easy.
Media blasted and used a self etching primer.
Pressed in the new sleeve bearings and filed the ends to match the hinge base.
Pressed in the original 3/8 pins from the top down and mounted everything back up to the tub.
I ordered 4 - 3/8 dia by 1" long bronze sleeve bushings from McMaster for $12 plus ship. https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/129/1409/6381K455
Pressed out the pins from the bottom up and chucked them in the drill press for a cleanup with emery cloth.
Set the hinge up on the drill press and re-bored the hinge pin opening from 3/8 to 1/2 dia, drilled out very easy.
Media blasted and used a self etching primer.
Pressed in the new sleeve bearings and filed the ends to match the hinge base.
Pressed in the original 3/8 pins from the top down and mounted everything back up to the tub.
I ordered 4 - 3/8 dia by 1" long bronze sleeve bushings from McMaster for $12 plus ship. https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/129/1409/6381K455
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