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jk84



Member Since: 17 Feb 2015
Location: Wherever my Defender takes me...
Posts: 720

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Door Hinges - OEM vs Optimill/other - Quality - Durability
Hi all,

Sorting out mechanical security on my truck and will be putting ball bearings into bolt heads along with resin metal paste to cover the holes. I know it's a drastic solution, but having had discussed it with couple members on the forum, prepared to do it for a piece of mind.

Having said that, since it's not the easiest task to take the hinges off afterwards, something that crossed my mind is if it's worth to install some good quality hinges now?

My OEM hinges are new, so nothing wrong with them. But if you experienced that they don't last too long and become a hassle fairly early on, would be interested to hear your comments. I guess you would agree then that it's beneficial to install some good quality ones straight away?

On the other hand, if you think it's entirely unnecessary to change the hinges now and I'm totally unreasonable, fire away, I'll take the criticism Very Happy

Look forward to comments!
Post #431135 15th Jun 2015 8:14pm
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need4speed



Member Since: 23 Nov 2012
Location: Kilmarnock
Posts: 746

The Optimill hinges look very very well made. Would love a set for my HT.
Post #431143 15th Jun 2015 8:34pm
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munch90



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
Posts: 3558

England 
People say about hinges wearing , personally never had any wear on any of mine on present or past defenders , just always kept them well lubed
Post #431147 15th Jun 2015 8:36pm
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mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6769

England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
Croytec hinges have a built in grease nipple for easy maintenance Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #431206 15th Jun 2015 10:29pm
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Pickles



Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3755

Australia 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green
munch90 wrote:
People say about hinges wearing , personally never had any wear on any of mine on present or past defenders , just always kept them well lubed

When you say "Well Lubed", how do you do that?
We have a'13 Defender, and there does not appear to be any way of lubing the hinges?
Pickles.
Post #431219 15th Jun 2015 11:20pm
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munch90



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
Posts: 3558

England 
just put a few drips of corrosion block on the top and let it run down edge and let it soak in around pin area , wiping excess off
Post #431239 16th Jun 2015 6:42am
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Pickles



Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3755

Australia 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green
Would WD40 do the job?
Pickles.
Post #431243 16th Jun 2015 7:22am
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munch90



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
Posts: 3558

England 
anything will help , wd40 would be ok maybe a bit thin , 3 in 1 oil ok ,

plenty of spray greases around , something like a cable and chain lube as its thin when sprayed then dries out to leave like a graphite grease behind

with oil I would drip a couple of drops on top part of hinge and just let it creep down around pin area , same on rears small amount on top and your see it run down and around the hinge ball

just wipe excess of paint work
Post #431246 16th Jun 2015 7:37am
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SailingTom



Member Since: 19 Nov 2013
Location: ESSEX
Posts: 1709

United Kingdom 
Again dont really see a need, never had any issues with the factory ones so not something i'd ever consider upgrading
Post #431254 16th Jun 2015 8:25am
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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3346

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Usually the ones who complain about them dropping and wearing are pre Td5 age as they are the ones which have been around long enough to dry out and rot, plus they have the earlier style hinge pins which don't have any seals on them.

My door hinges were so bad when you opened the door fully you could lift it about 10mm at the end and they clicked and rattled when I drove over rough ground (or the A21 for that matter Rolling Eyes)

I replaced mine with some galvanized Td5 hinges as they have the later style hinge pins which have a nylon seal built in which helps prevent the rain getting in and rusting the pin out, plus being galvanized they are much less likely to rust Thumbs Up

Now I just drop in a few drops of 3-in-1 oil when I'm doing my weekly checks and they have been brilliant Thumbs Up Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197

Self confessed mileage hunter Very Happy
Post #431316 16th Jun 2015 12:56pm
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jk84



Member Since: 17 Feb 2015
Location: Wherever my Defender takes me...
Posts: 720

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Thank you for the comments all! Have decided not to replace the OEM ones then and will just ensure they are greased regularly as suggested by majority.

Had quite a good suggestion though from one of the members here to actually take them off and get the grease nipple made on them, might consider that at some point. MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold
Post #433592 25th Jun 2015 1:21pm
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