Patent ID: 7003859

Claim:
A method for repairing a door hinge, wherein the door hinge comprises at least a vehicle frame bracket attached to a portion of a vehicle frame and a hinge bracket, wherein the vehicle frame bracket comprises a first and second opening aligned along and lying orthogonal to a frame bracket axis, wherein the hinge bracket comprises a first and second opening aligned along and lying orthogonal to the frame bracket axis, wherein the vehicle frame bracket and the hinge bracket are coupled using a first pin positioned in the first opening of the vehicle frame bracket and the first opening of the hinge bracket and using a second pin positioned in the second opening of the vehicle frame bracket and the second opening of the hinge bracket, wherein the method comprises: removing the first and second pins to release the hinge bracket from the vehicle frame bracket, wherein removing the first and second pins comprises: removing ends of the first and second pins holding the first and second pins in the openings of the hinge bracket and vehicle frame bracket; pushing the first and second pins out of the openings of the hinge bracket and vehicle frame bracket using a punch tool, wherein the punch tool comprises: a body portion; and first and second spaced apart portions extending from the body portion to define a bracket receiving region therebetween configured to receive a portion of the vehicle frame bracket and the hinge bracket when the tool is used to remove one of the first and second pins, wherein one of the first and second spaced apart portions defines a pin receiving region configured to receive one of the first and second pins when the tool is used to remove the pin and the other of the first and second spaced apart portions defines a threaded opening configured to receive a threaded punch screw operable to engage the pin when the tool is being used to remove the pin; providing a first substitute pin configured to be received through the first opening of the vehicle frame bracket and a second substitute pin configured to be received through the second opening of the vehicle frame bracket; providing a substitute hinge bracket comprising a first and second opening aligned orthogonal on a substitute hinge bracket axis; aligning the substitute hinge bracket axis and the vehicle frame bracket axis; and coupling the vehicle frame bracket and the substitute hinge bracket using the first and second substitute pins.