KentrolCJ/YJ/TJ Hinge Liners (2 Door) 70005

These were installed on a 1997 Wrangler TJ with rusty hinges and worn out stock bushings. As stated in other reviews, the drive out tool was not for removal on this model year, but I had tremendous success using a screwdriver and hammer. I collapsed the top flap into itself and then used the screwdriver and drive it out through the top, it took a little bit of coercion but it worked perfectly and I got all four out using that method. Keep in mind people, you need to be gentle and use your common sense, if you go beating on these things with a hammer both the removal AND install will absolutely be a nightmare for you! Once the old ones were removed, I cleaned with a wire brush (see pic) using WD40 to loosen up rust and grime. Then I cleaned the insides and applied some 3in1 Silicone All-Temp lubricant. The new ones went in perfectly (NOTE:I did have to trim about 3/4” off with a hacksaw because the 97 has the shallow hinges) using a little bit of persuasion with the hammer and included tool. I had to work my door back and forth a few times before it fell all the way into the hinge, but now it swings and closes like brand new. I will update on how long they last, but being a Kentrol product I do expect them to have some durability.

This is a very long review but I hope it helps my fellow Jeepers out there with the installation if you purchase these hinge liners. The directions that come with them are a little vague.As others have said preperation is key.To get the old hinge liners out I used a small roll pin punch and rolled the edge inward all the way around to start. Then I used a larger one, almost the diameter of the liner to push it out through the bottom of the hinge with a hammer.Next I used a dremel with a small drum sander to clean the rust out of the hinge.I have a 1998 TJ. The hinge liners only go about half way down the inside of the hinge. There is a shoulder inside the hinge at that half way point. You will have to trim the new liners to length accordingly. I made the mistake of not trimming one of the new liners short enough and tapped it in with a rubber mallet. The new liner pushed in past the edge of the shoulder and would not let me put the door back on. Once I figured out what the problem was I trimmed the liner a little more and and the door slid right in place.You will also need to clean the rust off the door side hinge pins. I put some never seize on mine before I put the doors back on.My doors open and close now just like new. Man what a difference. Glad I did this now.

Perfect product. New door hinge liner / sleeve works well and the install / removal tool fits and works perfectly. However, the OEM hinge sleeves will probably be challenging to remove.- The OEM hinge sleeves on my 2006 TJ appeared to be bronze, or something like that, which makes sense because bronze won't rust out like steel and also because that material has a good blend of malleability and lubricity. And since that material is malleable, over the years those sleeves will have been squished and twisted into whatever shape your door hinge pins required. Consequently, your OEM sleeves won't necessarily press out as easily as you hoped and that's where you might need to get creative.- My TJ needed a fair amount of penetrating oil and a lot of waiting time and then oil re-application to get the OEM sleeves loose. And yet, they could still not be hammered or pressed out using the supplied tool.- The only way to get the original sleeves out was to use a drill to loosen them, and then use the insert / removal tool to pound them out. If you find yourself in this situation, use a drill bit that's one or two steps smaller than the door hinge pin's diameter. Be careful with this because you do NOT want to enlarge the hole in the hinge; you only want to get the drill bit to grab and coax that sleeve to come loose so that the insert / removal tool can do its job.- Overall, this is a very simple process as long as you take your time and concentrate on not trying to actually drill the sleeve out of the hinge. Again, you only want to grab the sleeve with your drill bit to get it to wiggle loose and then once it spins free in the hinge, you can use the removal tool to drive it out cleanly.- And last, the new sleeves are plastic so they'll likely need to be replaced every few years.- Overall, it's a great product and I recommend it.