Door removal PSA: check for loose door bolts

[BOLD Renegade93]

Morning everyone,

I took the front doors off this morning for the first time in my 1.5 years of ownership. I’m embarrassed by that fact but it is what it is. Good news is that it was very easy to do.

I wanted to let y’all know that my passenger side lower door bolt was very loose when I went to remove it. I put the 13mm on it and got no resistance. I was able to easily remove with my hand. The other 3 bolts on both doors were secure. Just a heads up that folks may want to check their door bolts for security.

Im addicted to doors off driving now! Cheers!

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[JT58Bronc]

Thanks for the tip. I have not had my doors off after well over a year of ownership. Reading the forum and seeing some have dropped the doors and caused damage to the bottom I am hesitant to remove them.

 

[tractorcrusher]

One of my bolts wasn't very tight when I removed my doors the first time either... Also, this is common knowledge but when you put the doors back on if one of them clicks when you close it the bolt needs to be tightened a little bit more.

 

[Golfsnob]

I've only had mine since March but I've never taken the doors off. Doubt I ever will. Don't really see the point of it. Pretty sure I'll never remove the clamshell either. Haven't had the front top sections off yet either. 2 door windows are large so rolled down is enough open air for me. It's as hot as the sun here in Florida so riding around in 100 degree temps with the sun burning a hole in me is not appealing.

 

[710-oil-614]

I find taking the doors off straight forward and fairly simple.

Putting them back on is the "challenging part" to make sure you don't dent, ding, or scratch the Bronco while getting the door to seat properly even with the alignment tool. Not hard, just the more difficult of the two.

 

[MayhemMike]

I predict after twenty five years of my Bronco ownership the doors will still be like they were when the assembly line workers attached them. I have never understood the door off thing unless one s going to traverse serious terrain and wants to avoid door damage. Driving around town? I don’t get it. But hey, different likes is what makes the world fun.

 

[rayhil67]

love riding doorless

One of my bolts wasn't very tight when I removed my doors the first time either... Also, this is common knowledge but when you put the doors back on if one of them clicks when you close it the bolt needs to be tightened a little bit more.

The first time this happened to me I freaked... I had thought I bent something!!


Reading the forum and seeing some have dropped the doors and caused damage to the bottom I am hesitant to remove them.

Removing doors is pretty easy one man job, its putting back on that can be tricky.. almost need 2 people for 2 door to be safe. With my Jeep I was always able to hold the door by the top window frame and guide into the holes with my other hand.

 

[MayhemMike]

I've only had mine since March but I've never taken the doors off. Doubt I ever will. Don't really see the point of it. Pretty sure I'll never remove the clamshell either. Haven't had the front top sections off yet either. 2 door windows are large so rolled down is enough open air for me. It's as hot as the sun here in Florida so riding around in 100 degree temps with the sun burning a hole in me is not appealing.

If you ever do decide to remove the entire top, you’ll be instantly hooked on the vehicle appearance alone. They look so darn cool with the tops off. Fortunately for me, my Bronco is a toy and not a daily driver. My roof comes off at the end of spring and goes back on about mid fall. I actually get a tad depressed when putting the top back on.

 

[tractorcrusher]

Removing doors is pretty easy one man job, its putting back on that can be tricky.. almost need 2 people for 2 door to be safe. With my Jeep I was always able to hold the door by the top window frame and guide into the holes with my other hand.

When I put my doors back on I push my mirrors forward (toward the front), then I lay out a moving blanket on the ground next to the Bronco, and when you lift them you can hold the door handle as well as the grab area at the bottom of the inside of the door... it's tricky until you do it a few times. The trick is you really have to commit to getting it lined up and try not to give up, but if you want to reset just lay it on the moving blanket and come back and try it again. It gets easier but the key is lifting it correctly.

That being said I have long arms so it may be easier for me.

 

[Golfsnob]

If you ever do decide to remove the entire top, you’ll be instantly hooked on the vehicle appearance alone. They look so darn cool with the tops off. Fortunately for me, my Bronco is a toy and not a daily driver. My roof comes off at the end of spring and goes back on about mid fall. I actually get a tad depressed when putting the top back on.

Mine is basically a toy as well. I'm at the age where comfort rules appearance/fashion (Not wearing elastic pants YET"). Granted if you can have both it's a bonus.

 

[crowbar]

Wanted to echo same sentiments in here. Doors come off incredibly easy. The hard(est) part is seating them back on correctly! I've had my front two doors "bark" a few times - even after almost of week of putting them back on. It's a pretty alarming noise - but once you tighten that bolt, they're fine.

 

[SoDak1623]

One of my bolts wasn't very tight when I removed my doors the first time either... Also, this is common knowledge but when you put the doors back on if one of them clicks when you close it the bolt needs to be tightened a little bit more.

Yep, I experienced this after I took them off the first time. Thought my passenger door had an issue, but I checked the bolt and fount it to be finger loose. I snugged it up and no clicking or popping.

 

[BOLD Renegade93]

Thanks for the tip. I have not had my doors off after well over a year of ownership. Reading the forum and seeing some have dropped the doors and caused damage to the bottom I am hesitant to remove them.

I don’t have door bags (on my wish list) and I found them easy to take off. I placed a pad underneath in case I dropped one but I didn’t. Putting back on may be another story. I’ll let you know when that happens.

 

[SoDak1623]

I'd also recommend cleaning and putting a good application of grease on the hinges before reinstallation. When I first removed my passenger door it took some effort to pop it up off the hinge, causing me to take a little paint out of top of the fender near the edge. Nothing serious as I fixed it up with the touch up paint and sealer, but I found that the hinges were basically bone dry from the factory

Also the door bags make the process much easier.

 

[BOLD Renegade93]

I've only had mine since March but I've never taken the doors off. Doubt I ever will. Don't really see the point of it. Pretty sure I'll never remove the clamshell either. Haven't had the front top sections off yet either. 2 door windows are large so rolled down is enough open air for me. It's as hot as the sun here in Florida so riding around in 100 degree temps with the sun burning a hole in me is not appealing.

I’m a glutton for punishment. I’ve had plenty of swamp ass in Louisiana but I’d honestly have the top off way more often if I had a lift for it. I take the front panels off frequently unless rain is forecasted for multiple days in a row.

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