My brother in law asked me for help on his '96 Dakota. From what I can tell the metal around the lower hinge on the driver's door cracked and gave way...when you try to open the door the hinge pushes all of the way into the door. It is so bad he has to crawl through the passenger side now. We are debating whether it will be easier to find another door to put on or if we would be better off welding the door back up and redoing the hinge. If this is a common problem then a used door probably wouldn't be the way to go....might end up with the same problem.

Thanks,

Derek
'81 W150

 

Well, I've heard about the hinges before... needless to say, the doors probably aren't too easy on the hinges (kinda heavy).
Here's pics of my hinges... that top one isn't looking too great. My top hinge looks like its been welded. [&:]
I don't know the "prefered" repair, but I'm guessing if you get one "stock" it will go bad again. If mine goes, I'll just rig 'er up good.

[IMG]local://upfiles/948/AB16B02D217A44BE88436F52CF73F7D0.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/948/B6B5B045F9AB4EAC82D7D991A2285C46.jpg[/IMG]

 

On my top hinge the hinge started seperating from the door. I bent the hinge into the door and did some slow carefull welds. no problems its been about 5 years now. I belive it is from the door being open to far or to hard. i had some wind catch it and that is the last strawso i welded it.

 

I have a 1996 Dakota that had and now has again the same problem. I welded it back with good solid welds about a year ago and primered the outside so rust would not get it. Yet it has snapped again. From what I can see it rusted thru the inside out

 

I've had to weld the lower hinge on my driver's door but before you go off and do it, know this...weld slowly in short spurts allowing a cool down period between weld spurts. I did this but not good enough because now I have a light brown spot in my white paint! While it's not a HUGE deal I kinda get tired of telling the story every time someone else sees it for the first time and asks about it!