Doors

[nmoroz]

when putting doors back on, is it best to put the bolt back in, or can you leave it out. Being down at the beach, not like I am traveling far or over 50MPH at max.
think it would just be easier leaving it out since I would be taking them off and on a lot when it rains.

thanks

Sponsored

 

[MntGoat]

You'll be fine with no hinge bolts, doors won't fall off, enjoy the beach

 

[nmoroz]

when putting doors back on, is it best to put the bolt back in, or can you leave it out. Being down at the beach, not like I am traveling far or over 50MPH at max.
think it would just be easier leaving it out since I would be taking them off and on a lot when it rains.

thanks

I remember the old days back in the 90's and remember people not putting them back on just didn't know anything was different these days

 

[Dan M.]

I haven't had mine in for years, bo issues

 

[TheBirdie72]

Same here. Been running a couple years now without the hinge bolts, no problem whatsoever.

 

[jimcoffey62]

when putting doors back on, is it best to put the bolt back in, or can you leave it out. Being down at the beach, not like I am traveling far or over 50MPH at max.
think it would just be easier leaving it out since I would be taking them off and on a lot when it rains.

thanks

I leave them out for in town driving. Put at least one for highway.
crash testing is safer with door bolts.

 

[Heimkehr]

crash testing is safer with door bolts.

That was what I was going to say. Yes, the Jeep's doors will stay in place without the use of the related hinge bolts, but the owner is also giving away any protection (i.e., door retention) that they might provide in a collision. Choose wisely.

 

[AzCoronaDog]

My '76 CJ7 was my daily driver for over 14 years, never had an issue with just the door hinge pins on the hard doors.
I suppose the retaining nuts could offer a tiny bit of help in a severe crash, but the latch is more important.
Just be sure to check for gunk on the threads before you put the nuts back on.

 

[jimcoffey62]

My '76 CJ7 was my daily driver for over 14 years, never had an issue with just the door hinge pins on the hard doors.
I suppose the retaining nuts could offer a tiny bit of help in a severe crash, but the latch is more important.
Just be sure to check for gunk on the threads before you put the nuts back on.

as a licensed professional engineer, the hinge pin bolts are going to do more than just a tiny bit of help in a wreck.
its a free country. But if you have kids that depend on you, either put the pins in or buy good life and long term care insurance. Your free choice.

as for me. I put them in if I’m going to be driving faster than 45 or so. Leave ‘em out for put putting on the beach and the neighborhood.

 

[AzCoronaDog]

as a licensed professional engineer, the hinge pin bolts are going to do more than just a tiny bit of help in a wreck.
its a free country. But if you have kids that depend on you, either put the pins in or buy good life and long term care insurance. Your free choice.

as for me. I put them in if I’m going to be driving faster than 45 or so. Leave ‘em out for put putting on the beach and the neighborhood.

Engineer or not, I seriously doubt the retaining nuts do much at all in a crash, considering how long the pins are, and how strong the latch is, and how the door is held in place in the door frame by the windshield being at an angle, and especially with the top on.
I have seen a few severely wrecked Jeeps from the CJ days with no pins and a latch that did not even lock on anything, and never saw a hard top door come off, even when the roll cage was bashed in.
For the record, I keep the nuts on mine, because I have power tools that remove them quickly, and you have to pull the limiter arm bolt anyway. I do it more for the tiny bit of extra time it would take to steal them if the top is off.
But I love driving with all the door off, so the retaining nut debate is mute most of the time for me.

 

[jimcoffey62]

Engineer or not, I seriously doubt the retaining nuts do much at all in a crash, considering how long the pins are, and how strong the latch is, and how the door is held in place in the door frame by the windshield being at an angle, and especially with the top on.
I have seen a few severely wrecked Jeeps from the CJ days with no pins and a latch that did not even lock on anything, and never saw a hard top door come off, even when the roll cage was bashed in.
For the record, I keep the nuts on mine, because I have power tools that remove them quickly, and you have to pull the limiter arm bolt anyway. I do it more for the tiny bit of extra time it would take to steal them if the top is off.
But I love driving with all the door off, so the retaining nut debate is mute most of the time for me.

I have a soft top. So there is no had support structure over my door.

 

[AzCoronaDog]

I have a soft top. So there is no had support structure over my door.

Even with the soft top, there is stuff at the top of the door, with metal in it, to make a water tight seal that makes it impossible to just lift the door straight up when it is closed. (Just checked on my neighbor's soft top model.)
In any case, use the nuts or not, in my semi-educated opinion, they just can't make much difference in a crash based on the physics.

Sponsored