We all know that Jeep’s engineering team is among the best in the world. You don’t build one of the most innovative, iconic, and long-running 4x4s on the planet without employing some of the brightest minds in the business. That’s not to say that our favorite off-roaders don’t have some weak spots - components that might need a little upgrade. One example is the door hinges on JK Wranglers. They’re subject to wear, sagging, and oxidation, but the good news is Kentrol’s stainless steel hinge replacements solve the problem permanently.

What’s the Deal with Wrangler Door Hinges?

JK-era Wranglers have been on the road since 2007 and many of them have lived hard or adventurous lives. Also, depending on what area of the country you live in, they can also be subjected to harsh climate conditions and road salts. Rust and corrosion can become a real headache, especially for the door hinges.

If you haunt any of the JK forums or Facebook groups, you know this is a well-documented issue. Rust can appear not only in the hinge mechanism itself, but also on the fasteners and behind where the hinges attach to both the doors and the body. The paint easily chips off the star-head bolts that hold the hinges in place. Of course, any time rust gets its claws into your Jeep, it can spread, leading to more problems.

In addition, door hinges are some of the most used and abused parts on your JK. Getting in and out of the vehicle every day, slamming the doors, and even the process of removing and reinstalling the doors for al fresco travel in the summer all contribute to wear and tear. The result is sagging and loose hinges and misaligned doors that are difficult to close, even possibly leading to damage on the catch and lock mechanisms.

Kentrol Stainless Steel Hinges to the Rescue

Thankfully, the hinges on the JK Wrangler were designed from the factory for fast replacement. By just removing a handful of bolts with some helping hands, swapping out your old, crusty hinges with a quality stainless steel set from Kentrol is easy. Our hinges are made from T-304 stainless steel and feature Delrin composite inserts for the hinge pins to guarantee smooth, worry-free operation for years to come.

Our door hinges for your JK come in a variety of finishes - from ready-to-paint versions to match your Jeep’s body color, to a black textured finish that resembles your OE door handles and side mirrors, and even polished stainless for a really eye-catching look. With sets available for two- and four-door Wranglers, as well as tailgate and lift gate hinge replacements and overlays, you can refresh your Jeep from tip to tail, for surprisingly affordable prices. Each set is inspected for fit, finish, and function before it leaves the Kentrol factory and they come complete with all the stainless steel hardware you need for installation as well as step-by-step illustrated instructions.

We also have a highly experienced customer service team at our Ohio headquarters ready to assist with your door hinge project, and a vast video library available on our YouTube channel to guide you through every step. All Kentrol products come with a limited lifetime warranty. We set the industry standard more than 30 years ago by manufacturing high-quality stainless-steel accessories for your Jeep.

How Do I Install Kentrol Stainless Steel Door Hinges?

Because Jeep engineered the Wrangler’s door hinges with external hardware, installing a new set of Kentrol Stainless Steel door hinges is a snap. You can do it all by yourself, but having a helper can make things go even smoother.

Assemble your Kentrol hinges

The first step is to account for all the correct parts in your Kentrol hinge kit and assemble your new hinges. Using your old hinges as a guide, slide the two parts of the Kentrol hinge together with the nylon washer in between. Secure the two halves with the included nut and washer finger-tight for the time being.

Support the door

Next, you need to make sure when you remove the OE hinges that the door is supported from below with a floor jack, or a set of jack stands, preferably cushioned with a block of wood or even a towel or blanket. This will reduce stress on the remaining hinge and the sheet metal.

Mark the original position of the top hinge

To facilitate door realignment at the end of the installation process, use a pencil or dry-erase marker to trace around the hinge hinge on the body side.

Remove the top hinge door side fasteners

Using a sharp blade, carefully cut away the paint sealing the hinge body and the hinge fasteners on the outside of your door. Then, using a 50mm Torx bit, remove the two fasteners from the door side of the hinge. You might need a breaker bar or some gentle persuasion with a hammer on the end of an extension to get these Torx bolts to break free.

Remove the top hinge body side bolts

Next, using a 13mm socket, remove the bolts from the body side of the hinge, and remove the old hinge.

Thoroughly clean, or prime and paint your bodywork

Jeep painted JKs after their hinges were installed, so you’ll find bare metal behind the original hinge. It’s likely you’ll also find some rust lurking there as well. We recommend at a minimum treating that rust with a chemical rust converter or rust converting paint. If you’re particular like we are, we like to sand away any rust, and then prime and paint the bare metal area and allow the paint to fully dry before installing the new hinges.

Install the new stainless steel Kentrol hinge

Using clear silicone sealant, apply a thin bead to the body side of the new hinge and lightly bolt in place using the line you drew earlier as a guide. Apply a similar amount of silicon sealant to the door side of the Kentrol hinge, and attach it to the door using the supplied hardware. The outer hinge half is secured with 5mm allen head bolts. Fully tighten all bolts and fasteners, and wipe away excess sealant.

Adjust the door

Make sure all your fasteners are fully tightened before removing your jack or jack stands, and try opening and closing the door gently. It may need a little bit of adjustment, which you can do by slightly loosening the fasteners on the hinges to move the door in the correct direction to engage the catch in its center.

Repeat the process for the lower hinge

That’s it! You’ve successfully upgraded your JK Jeep with Kentrol’s stainless steel door hinge kit. No more rusty hinges or sagging doors on your favorite four wheel drive. Case closed!

How Do Kentrol Door Hinges Hold Up?

"We’ve been building door hinges for decades, and thousands of Jeeps have benefited from our rugged stainless steel hinge upgrades. But don’t take our word for it - our customers tell the best story." - Jeremy O., Five Stars

"Installation was easier than expected. It only took me about an hour to replace both parts of both hinges on both of the doors. After adjusting the hinges the doors closed easier than they did before with the factory hinges that only had 1/4 of the paint left." - Jordan J., Five Stars

"Great Product. Bought both body and door hinges. Installation was smooth and easy. Quality was just what I was looking for. I recommend these to anyone looking." - Earl from Pittsburgh, Five Stars

"I bought these to replace the rusty hinges on my 2000 TJ. Removing the factory hinges was harder than installing the new ones. Glad they're stainless - so I won't have to deal with that again. I've had them on for over a year through a Pennsylvania winter with no problems." - Jennine P, Five Stars

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find out for yourself how well our door hinge kits perform by ordering a set today. It’s easy right here on the Kentrol website - just choose your year Jeep and pick the kit that fits your model. Reach out with any questions or comments, and we’ll see you on the trails.

At Kentrol, we have a new product available for your JK Jeep, a mount for your rear license plate that also provides an LED light onto your plate. With a black powder coat to resemble your OE door handles/side mirrors, and detailed instructions to install, this plate cover is a perfect fit for your vehicle.

Made of 304 stainless steel, you also have the added comfort knowing that you have a weather-resistant part that will last you a lifetime.

Do you want to learn more, or are curious what other quality parts Kentrol has to offer you? Visit our website at www.kentrolinc.com and see what we have.

Are you looking to spruce up the interior of your CJ? Speaking from the standpoint of my hobbies, when I put a lot of love into one of my favorite pastimes, it makes the experience feel just like new again!

Thanks to Kentrol, there's a lot of options for me to get that new feeling back in my CJ! For example, I could replace my glove box door with one made of polished stainless steel, install snazzy grab bars, or even beef up my dashboard panel with a sturdy, metal replacement!

Does any/all of this sound like it's up your alley? See Kentrol's inventory at www.kentrolinc.com for the details!

We've all been in the position where we want to take the doors off of our Jeeps as soon as summer starts. That said, how do you go about it in a way that still allows you to take your car legally out on the highways?

When removing the doors off your Jeep, the primary thing that you need to think about is your mirrors. In most states, it is illegal to drive without a rear view mirror and at least one side mirror. If you end up taking your doors off, naturally the mirrors go with it, so how do you accommodate for that?

Kentrol's proposal to that is our line of EZ Detach (for TJ and JK) and Outback Mirrors (for CJ, YJ, TJ, JK, and JT). These mirrors are designed to attach to the frame of the car, sans door. By doing this, you can keep your car street-legal, and as a bonus, have a little bit of that chrome finish with a part that will last you a lifetime.

Do you want to learn more, or see what else we have to offer? Check out www.kentrolinc.com to learn more!

Since the year 1980, our company has been designing, making, and distributing stainless steel upgrades to a myriad of factory-level Jeep parts. Our range of support goes from 1955-2022, with a dedication to supporting as many customers and their Jeeps as we can.

All of our parts are built out of 304 stainless steel. 304 is considered the industry standard of stainless steel, known for it's quality, weather-resistance, and durability. On top of that, our parts are designed thicker compared to the factory originals, further improving the durability. Many of our products are designed to conceal unsightly paint seams, too!

If you'd like to learn more, we're on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube, where we strive to connect with our fellow Jeep lovers! Additionally, on our site, (www.kentrolinc.com) we have an extensive array of products to suit your needs.

When reinstalling your doors in the early days of fall, sometimes you need to replace parts of your hinges. Perhaps, you just know you want a long-lasting upgrade to ensure it won't be an issue. We at Kentrol are here to help you with our array of door hinge liners, available for the JK, JL, and JT.

Our replacement door hinge liners are made from a unique type of plastic called Black Delrin, or otherwise known as acetal. Acetal is considered an "engineering" plastic due to it's resistance to being distorted/it's strength. This material is low in friction and stiff, making parts made out of it durable and easy to install. Overall, this makes it a heated competitor to metal parts in a variety of scenarios, namely in automotive products.

Are you interested in reading more? See our door hinge liners (and a lot more!) at www.kentrolinc.com

Have you fallen victim to a broken door strap?  Has your Jeep suffered the infamous dent on the cowl?  Kentrol has your fix with their Door Strap Kit.

Kentrol's replacements for Jeep's Part# 5459207 are made of 304 stainless footman loops and hardware, topped with quality nylon webbing.  Each part is hand inspected by Kentrol's QC department to ensure bolt-in-installation is simple and smooth.

So stop waiting for disaster to strike and get yours ordered today at www.kentrolinc.com!

Have you been losing sleep over where to put your license plate on your new bumper?  Does the thought of drilling holes turn your stomach?  Look no further becausee Kentrol has got you covered with their Shackle Mounted License Plate Bracket (KEN80706)!

This high-quality license plate bracket is made from 304 stainless steel topped in a black powder coated finish.  As for the install, it is as simple as removing the shackle and attaching this to the shackle tab with the supplied bolt.

Once again Kentrol has made life easier after over 30 years of making Jeep parts.  Stop losing sleep now and get your Kentrol 80706 Shackle Mounted License Plate Bracket!

Kentrol has the fix for your TJ/LJ tailgate hinge nightmares.  These come in both Polished Stainless and Powder Coated Stainless (Part#30478/50478)

These hinges are made from high quality 304 Stainless Steel which is a solid upgrade from the factory, and comes with stainless steel hardware.  With Kentrol's hinges, you do not retain the factory plastic overlay that traps salt and debris inside the hinge (a factory paint defect is visible when the plastic overlay is removes).  Installation is as simple as removing your four factory bolts that hold each hinge to the vehicle.  Remove your upper hinge then replace with the Kentrol hinge and supplies hardware.  Repeat this step on the lower (do one hinge at a time).  Check to ensure the door opens and closes smoothly and you are good to go.

Kentrol hand inspects each hinge to ensure quality and fitment will never be an issue.  This is all backed by a LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY.  Kentrol's 30+ years of designing Jeep products shows in the quality of these stainless hinges.  So if you are sick of tugging on the tailgate with all the power you can harness, or sick of looking at rust, get yourself a set of these Kentrol Stainless Steel Tailgate Hinges. -Jay Smalz, 2022

If you’ve been a part of, or at least heard about, Kentrol, you know that longevity is their mission.  They’ve revolutionized the Jeep aftermarket scene with their aftermarket parts, trivializing passion and restoration projects alike.  But one of the major selling points of a Jeep is the ability to experience ‘True’ freedom.  Only achievable by removing your doors and top.  I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir here, but for a moment let’s think about how you can achieve this.  Door hinges, door pins, bolts and nuts.  The older your body gets, the harder it is to move your body.  So let me tell you about Kentrol’s Fountain of Youth.

Door Hinges and Their Pins

The most mobile parts of your Jeep will always be the first to go south.  In the aftermarket scene, this usually means any sort of hinge or contact point.  But what if these points were ageless?  One of Kentrol’s most popular parts is their Door Hinge Liners.  There are many attributing factors, but know that constantly opening and closing a door is quick to wear down paint and protective coats.  That’s where we thought to replace metal with durable rust free plastic.  Delrin to be exact, which means low friction and resistance.

Rust tends to grow south, following gravity.  It should be no surprise, though.  Take a look at a rusting license plate and you see that it bleeds its disease into the tailgate.  However, remove the contact points and your door will most likely look brand new for years to come!  That’s where the liners come in.

As your door opens and closes, it wears down the metal inside the hinge.  Mother Nature takes its toll, and before you know it your door is seized and your friends are laughing at you.  But I get it.  Your Jeep is new and life is good.  But taking a little time now to prevent it, will save you tears, time, and money in the future.

Our Door Liners are spec’d out according to factory CAD data (3D designs), meaning they were designed to fit from conception.  And if that wasn’t enough, following Kentrol’s mantra, we hand inspect every product from the line with actual Jeep hinges to ensure that what you get, is what we intended.

We make them for every Wrangler model, including your new 2020 Gladiator!  It’s worthwhile to preserve its new-Jeep smell early on.  That way you can enjoy it longer, with less frustration!

Are you looking to protect your CJ from the wear and tear of the outdoors? We at Kentrol are here to help!

Our parts are made from 304 stainless steel. Steel is historically made from a combination of iron with a trace amount of carbon. What differentiates stainless steel from regular steel is the additional elements of chromium and nickel. This gives stainless steel it's unique properties. For you, that means you can expect a weather-resistant and durable part that will last you a lifetime.

We have grill guards available for the CJ5, CJ7, or CJ8 line of Jeeps. Are you interested in reading more about the Grill Guards? Check out our website at www.kentrolinc.com for more information.

Are you looking to protect the paint of your Jeep? Not only that, but are you looking for that additional little step of your own Jeep flair? Kentrol has a perfect solution for you, with our range of entry guards.

Installed over the lip of your door's frame at floor level, entry guards serve the purpose of protecting the paint of your Jeep from being worn down by accidental impacts with your foot. Overall, Jeeps have a higher lip than most cars, so this ends up being a pretty common occurrence.

Additionally, our entry guards are made with 304 stainless steel. 304 stainless steel is, compared to traditional steel, weather-resistant and long-lasting. We have options available for the JK, YJ, TJ, and CJ5/7 models.

Interested in learning more? Take a look at www.kentrolinc.com, where we have entry guards (and a whole lot more) available to upgrade your Jeep.