Oh boy: Door brake/hinge failure

[Denton]

:(

My driver's door brake/hinge has been messed up for as long as I've had the car. You could see where the door brake was going into the soft metal of the door. The hinge made noise for a while, a bad knocking-type of noise.

When the car was in the shop for the fuel pump, the hinge failed on the mechanic. The door wouldn't shut. He had to remove the door and cut the hinge off! I can't believe it!

So now no door brake until I can get it to a bodyshop. I also need a new door brake and pin.

I know about the KMS reinforcement plates, are those necessary? What else do I need to order?

Thanks!

[Evan]

Can you take a photo of it and let us see the damage, if any?

[Denton]

Can you take a photo of it and let us see the damage, if any?

My camera was stolen...I'll try to get a hold of one tonight or tomorrow.

The goldish hinge and black boot are gone. The metal on the door is gashed/ripped. Paint flaking from where the metal was pushed in.

Basically, now the door has no resistance. Since there's no door brake, you have to be careful and always have the door under your control...don't let it go too far!

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

A good body shop could fabricate a panel and repair the door.

the KMS fix is more of a DIY bolt on thing reinforcing the section that blew out.

[Denton]

A good body shop could fabricate a panel and repair the door.

the KMS fix is more of a DIY bolt on thing reinforcing the section that blew out.

Ahh, thanks!

The good Euro shop recommended a bodyshop that's done a few of these. We'll see what he says. I have no idea of how much this will cost! :(

[t.wak]

How'd you go? Mine just broke!!! Ripping it apart today to see what's up.

[t.wak]

Pulled mine apart and found that one screw is still where it belongs whereas the other screw has ripped thru the metal :(

Got some photos so will upload soon. As far as getting it out, I haven't tried yet. How do you get the pin out of the door brake so I can remove it? Just with a hammer?

[t.wak]

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7006/23112007zt9.th.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=23112007zt9.jpg)
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/6633/23112007004jd2.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=23112007004jd2.jpg)
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1610/23112007002tx2.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=23112007002tx2.jpg)
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/3905/23112007001mq4.th.jpg (http://img264.imageshack.us/my.php?image=23112007001mq4.jpg)

[BFEINZIMER]

so those kms things r legit?

[t.wak]

As you can see, it's an obvious design flaw. I think I'll probably just reinforce with larger washers instead of making up a bracket, but first things first: removing that damn brake and seeing if it's damaged too.

[Paul in NZ]

I was opening the door the other day and i felt a slight click and something relatively light but metallic fell inside the door :(

[Paul in NZ]

what dints the door???The arm?

[t.wak]

Yeah the part that becomes free inside the door gets pushed into the door panel...

[Paul in NZ]

and your car is only a new one.It doesnt matter how far you open the door.For the record I am 6 foot 3 and about 95 kg

[t.wak]

I must be opening my door WAY too far then (even though it shouldn't matter how far we want to open our doors). The little bastard even broke itself!

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3710/23112007005vs7.th.jpg (http://img442.imageshack.us/my.php?image=23112007005vs7.jpg)

[t.wak]

Open it up before it gets bad enough to dint your door.. Mine now has a small dent :( :(

[632 Regal]

to think I just hosed minw with PB blaster makes me feel like i cheated since never any replacements of sorts

[94_e34_525i]

You guys should stop opening the door all the way, I mean how fat are you guys? I never have to open my door allllll the way to get in the car, as long as you open it half way it should never break, its like turning your steering wheel all the way when you park the car, eventually something is gonna give.....iono just my 2 cents, i dont have the problem.

[bubba966]

so those kms things r legit?

Yes they are. I'd install a set on your front doors to prevent the brake from pulling out of the door.

My car has a KMS plate welded to the door and painted. Guess the PO had it start to rip on him.

My buddies '93 M5 had one of his brakes starting to pull the metal out, hadn't ripped yet. Got the KMS plate on and it flattened it all out and will keep it from getting worse.