Hinge shim

[jim]

The door hinges on the cortina have these shims or gaskets on them - does anyone know what they're made of?

The feel tough so not paper as such and its grainy like 120-180 grit glass paper?

Any ideas?

[Deleted]

Jim - There was a something similar on Pete's Corsair - its obviously something that is non compressible - I replaced the ones on the Corsair with alloy sheet that I cut to the hinge pattern has the originals were tatty and of the wrong thickness

[colnerov]

Hi, Rather than being shims per se, I've always thought them to be to stop the hinges moving about if the screws weren't done up tight enough again after any adjustment. Back in the day the home mechanic didn't have access to power tools and most hinges used large philips head countersunk screws. Which were difficult to undo let alone get them tight enough afterwards, they were like double sided emery for better grip.

Colin

[Deleted]

Fact that these shims are identical - both found on Ford models of the same era indicates that they are an OE factory fit - Cortina & Corsair hinges are bolt through on both faces and are unlikely to come loose - door hinge drop was more down to wear in the hinge pins or substantive rot in the door pillars

[Phil H]

Not the first time I’ve come across this “Emery paper” gasket on door hinges and I’ve no idea why. 99% of strange ideas on cars are for the assistance of building it quicker on the line. I can therefore only assume that is the case and it gives a bit of “nippage” with jiggle-ability between Fred who bolts the doors on loosely and Arthur who has to line it up and tighten the bolts?

[comfortablynumb]

Range rover classics have a similar thing, but made of an alloy with some pressings to add to the rigidity, seems s bit strange in something thats going to be compressed!
Later ones are actually slotted instead of bolt holes to permit them to be fed into place with the door hinge bolts loosely fitted. If i can find one i’ll post a pic
Still cant get my doors to hang properly tho’!