Can you get Bigger Balls?

Some of you might remember that I had an issue hanging my rear door during the rebuild. It was very low and when I put the door thresh seal in it wouldn't shut. I elongated the holes in the body work enough to get it to fit and the door to shut, although I do have to slam it a bit harder than I would Like.
I've noticed the bottom door frame is still just rubbing on the stainless thresh I put it, cos it's wearing the paint off the door frame down there.
I still haven't got a spare wheel on the back and I've decided to go for hanging one on the door rather than a swing away wheel carrier. I'll have to address the hinge and door height issue before I do though. So, I'm wondering if it's possible to get bigger brass balls to go in the hinges to lift them up?
I think it was Zeaphod who suggested putting small washers under the balls as a temporary measure. I wondered about cutting the balls in half and putting washers in the middle? I suppose I could really do with elongated balls Hmmm, someone with a lathe and a bit of brass bar. I'm off to do some googling, but if anyone knows a source of bigger brass balls, please let me know.

I put a couple of cup washers in mine a few years ago, and they are still fine.
Remember to give them a good greasing on assembly.

Oldseadog said:

I put a couple of cup washers in mine a few years ago, and they are still fine.
Remember to give them a good greasing on assembly.

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Cup washers, cracking idea.
I have found some 14mm brass balls for 99p each, but I reckon they are just about the same size as the ones that are in.
I'll google cup washers, Cheers, Oldseadog

Oldseadog said:

I put a couple of cup washers in mine a few years ago, and they are still fine.
Remember to give them a good greasing on assembly.

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I found some turned solid brass domed washers on ebay. They're only 7/16" diameter, but pretty thick. Worth a go for £3.50. Thanks for the suggestion.

Even flat brass washers will squeeze into the right shape of you've got a spare hinge mechanism and a blowlamp.

boguing said:

Even flat brass washers will squeeze into the right shape of you've got a spare hinge mechanism and a blowlamp.

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Cheers, boguing. If these domed washers don't work out I'll give that I try.

The weight of the wheel will really test your hinge setup, and your door frame. From my own experience I strongly recommend a carrier.

zeaphod said:

The weight of the wheel will really test your hinge setup, and your door frame. From my own experience I strongly recommend a carrier.

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Well, when I put a post on LZ about using a narrow wheel as a spare in order to reduce weight on the door I got quite a few people saying they had a spare on the door for donkeys years with no bother. I had a carrier before the rebuild and it helped shake the door apart. I don't think there is any easy answer to carrying such a large spare wheel.

Al2O3 said:

Well, when I put a post on LZ about using a narrow wheel as a spare in order to reduce weight on the door I got quite a few people saying they had a spare on the door for donkeys years with no bother. I had a carrier before the rebuild and it helped shake the door apart. I don't think there is any easy answer to carrying such a large spare wheel.

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I understand, but in my experience of 4 different landrovers the rear doors have all suffered. I believe a new door with new hinges will be fine for a while, but as you know, the spares are heavy buggers and the hinges are quite puny.

One of my alloys with a 265x75xR16 BFG weighs exactly 5 stone. I've gone through two doors (third is now on the Landy) Hinges have always been ok, frames fell apart.
I've even considered putting a dummy wheel with a Landy cover on the back. I've never had a puncture in eleven years (though 2 1/4 of those it was off the road being rebuilt)