[mwillis]

Does anyone have a suggestion how to replace the door hinge springs on a 1966 Mustang? Someone in the past has replaced them with a weaker, larger diameter spring that just doesn't do anything to hold the door in position. I bought replacements and they are a much stiffer spring. It appears that you would need to remove the pin holding the detent lever in position. I tried to remove it, but I couldn't get it to budge. There's not much room to swing a hammer in there. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Mike

[andrewmp6]

You have to take the hinges off the car first then How To Rebuild Your Ford's Door Hinges - Mustang & Fords Magazine

[Veronica]

Hello. The way that I always did it was to compress the spring in a vice with enough of it sticking out to slip a heavy zip tie in and use that to hold it compressed and then rotate the spring 180 degrees and put another zip tie on it the stick it into the hinge and cut the zip ties.

[Cobra6]

Originally Posted by Veronica

Hello. The way that I always did it was to compress the spring in a vice with enough of it sticking out to slip a heavy zip tie in and use that to hold it compressed and then rotate the spring 180 degrees and put another zip tie on it the stick it into the hinge and cut the zip ties.

Veronica is correct (as usual) I have done this several times. No need to remove the hinge.

[MizzouMike76]

And if you're anything like me,

you might wanna wear safefy glasses.

SPROINNNG! My eye!

[Jay H 237]

Another vote for the zip ties, they work well!

You can also use heavy wire too and twist it together. Untwist it when you have the springs in place.