If you’ve ever had to karate-kick your half door off a Jeep Wrangler TJ, you’re not alone. The factory-style metal door pin bushings don’t exactly age gracefully. Rust, corrosion, and the occasional overzealous car wash turn what should be a simple lift into an upper body workout. Fortunately, Quadratec offers a better solution—Delrin door bushings.
These aftermarket bushings replace the old metal sleeves in your TJ’s door hinges with precision-fit Delrin plastic. They’re quieter, smoother, and they don’t weld themselves to the door pins over time. Here’s how to get them installed.
Tools & Parts You’ll Need:
- Quadratec Delrin Door Bushing Kit (fits both upper and lower hinge per door)
- Drill or cordless screwdriver
- 3/8″ drill bit or bushing removal tool (optional but helpful)
- Small flathead screwdriver or pick
- Anti-seize compound (optional, but recommended)
- A cold beverage (you’ve earned it)
Step-by-Step Installation:
1. Remove the Doors
Start with the basics—take off the doors. Lower your windows (if you still have manual crank arms, enjoy the nostalgia), disconnect the limiting strap, and lift the door up and off the hinge pins. If it doesn’t want to budge, rock it gently or bribe a friend to help. In the case with the jeepfan.com 2004 TJ Unlimited it took the help of a floor jack to gently push the door up out of the hinges. It’s possible these doors have never been off.
2. Extract the Old Bushings
OEM bushings are steel and likely rusted into place. The Quadratec kit comes with a tool that helps remove the original steel bushings. Protect the body and gently tap out the bushings.
This job seemed to be easy but as usual it turned very difficult. The old hinges were very stuck and took a fair amount of PB Blaster and muscle. Keep at it they will come out.
3. Clean the Hinge
Before installing the new bushings, clean the hinge bore with a light wire brush that fits in the hole and a rag. Any leftover rust or debris will interfere with the Delrin fit.
4. Install the Delrin Bushings
The Quadratec bushings are a press-fit. Line them up and gently tap them into place with a rubber mallet or the butt of your screwdriver. They should sit flush with the top of the hinge. If you’re forcing it like you’re driving a stake into the ground, you’re doing it wrong.
5. Clean and Lubricate the Door Pins
Clean any rust off of the door pins to prevent wear of the new bushings, some cleaner followed with some fine sandpaper can do the job. A dab of anti-seize on the door pins before reinstalling the doors can make life easier the next time you remove them. Delrin won’t rust, but it never hurts to play nice with metal.
6. Reinstall the Doors
Lower the doors back onto the hinge pins. You’ll likely notice an immediate difference—they slide on with less resistance and no screeching metal. That’s the Delrin difference. Lubricate the door pins from time to time to keep things moving free.
Final Thoughts:
Quadratec’s Delrin bushings can be a low-effort, high-reward upgrade for any TJ owner tired of wrestling with stubborn doors. For under $20 and 20 minutes (if you are lucky) of your time, you get smoother operation, corrosion resistance, and a break from the stock steel-on-steel drama. It’s not flashy, but it works, and that’s what counts. Update: these have been on the Jeep for a few years and door removal is still very easy thanks to the Delrin bushings.
Part Number Used: Quadratec 55014 6102 (Delrin Door Bushing Kit for Jeep Wrangler TJ)
Estimated Install Time: 15–30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
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