How to replace Samsung refrigerator lower hinge DA82-01244A

Is your refrigerator door not closing as smoothly as it should? A worn or damaged lower door hinge could be to blame, leading to frustrating sagging and sealing issues. Don’t worry—our detailed guide and step-by-step video walk you through how to easily replace the hinge yourself and keep your fridge as fresh and efficient as ever!

Looking for the right part? Enter your appliance model number below to find the exact match and get your appliance running like new again!

Having properly functioning refrigerator doors is critical for maintaining cool air circulation and preventing food spoilage. The lower door hinge is the component that attaches to the refrigerator door and allows it to open and close smoothly. If this hinge becomes damaged or worn out, it can cause the door to sag or prevent proper sealing. 

Watch the full repair here!

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

What you’ll need

• Replacement Lower Refrigerator Door Hinge Part  (#DA82-01244A) – This specific part number is designed for the lower left hinge on certain Samsung refrigerators. Always check that you have the correct part for your model.
• Philips Screwdriver  
• Small Flathead Screwdriver 
• 10mm Socket with Ratchet/Extension  
• 5mm Allen Wrench 
• Towel  

Safety precautions   

Safety should always be a priority when working on any appliance. Here are a few practical tips to help you stay safe:

• Turn off the power to the appliance by unplugging it or switching off the circuit breaker before starting any maintenance or repairs. This protects you from the risk of electric shock.
• Wear insulated gloves to shield your hands from sharp edges, pinching hazards, or debris.
• Work at a steady pace and take your time to avoid accidents or injuries.
• Make sure your workspace is well-lit so you can clearly see and access the parts you’re working on.
• Keep the area clear of clutter, and ensure children and pets stay out of the workspace.
• Never handle internal parts with wet hands. Check that both your hands and the work area are completely dry.
• Refer to your appliance’s user manual for any specific instructions or safety guidelines related to the part or repair.
• Handle parts gently to avoid damage to the appliance or potential injuries from applying too much force.
• Use safety glasses when dealing with chemicals, dust, or large debris to protect your eyes from harm.
• If the appliance was recently used, give it enough time to cool down before working on any heated components.
• Take photos or notes of wiring connections and terminals before disconnecting anything to make reassembly easier.
• Avoid touching exposed wires or terminals. If you must handle wires, use non-conductive tools or wear insulated gloves to minimize the risk of electrical shock.

Remove door cover panels

Start the repair process by removing some concealing panels:

1. Use a small flathead screwdriver to gently pry up the small upper door cover panels. These snap off to reveal the screws beneath. Set panels aside carefully.
2. Repeat on the opposite side to remove that upper door cover.

Exposing these cover panels allows access to components underneath.

Detach the upper door cover

After removing the cover panels, the main upper cover needs detached:

1. Use the Philips screwdriver to remove the three screws now visible. These screws secure the main cover.
2. Once the screws are out, carefully lift up on the cover on the side you’ll be working on. Angle it back.
3. If equipped, press the release tab on the wiring harness plug to disconnect the two halves. This allows the cover to come completely free.
4. Set the cover safely out of the way. Be careful not to bend or distort it.

With the upper cover detached, you can now access the upper door hinge area.

Remove the upper hinge

To fully detach the refrigerator door, the upper hinge must first be removed:

1. Use the Philips screwdriver to unthread the screw from the grounding wire attached to the hinge. Set it aside in a safe spot.
2. Take out the two hinge bolts using the 10mm socket, ratchet, and extension bar. Support the door as you remove the last bolt.
3. Once the bolts are out, carefully lift the door up from the upper hinge pin and set it on top of the freezer drawer. Protect the finish with a towel.

The upper hinge is now detached allowing the lower hinge to be removed.

Remove the lower hinge

With easy access, you can now work on getting the faulty lower hinge off:

1. Use the 5mm Allen wrench to loosen and remove the two large bolts from the bottom of the hinge.
2. Take out the side Philips screw to fully detach the hinge.
3. Lift the refrigerator door up and off the lower hinge pin. The plastic bushing may come off with it.
4. If so, use a flathead screwdriver to pry the old bushing from the door. Discard the damaged hinge.

Thoroughly removing existing components prepares for installing the new replacement parts.

Install a new lower hinge

With the old lower hinge removed, installing the new Samsung part is straightforward:

1. Set the new hinge in place aligned with its opening.
2. Start the two larger bolts by hand before tightening down with the 5mm Allen wrench.
3. Attach the side screw tightly using the Philips screwdriver.
4. Pop off the plastic bushing temporarily to allow access to this screw.
5. Once secured, press the bushing back into the hinge pinhole until it clicks.

Take care when reattaching components to avoid stripping threads or damaging the new part.

Rehang the refrigerator door

Almost done! It’s time to rehang the detached refrigerator door:

1. Set the door back onto the new lower hinge bushing, aligning the holes.
2. Open the freezer drawer and prop the door on it for support.
3. Press the bushing up into the doorhole until fully seated. Remove the towel from beneath the door.
4. Push the freezer drawer closed again.

With the lower hinge and door reattached, just the upper hinge needs to be reconnected.

Replace the upper hinge and covers

The final steps involve installing the upper hinge components and covers:

1. Rotate the upper hinge as needed to line up the bolt holes with the door holes.
2. Hand start one bolt before fully tightening both with the 10mm socket kit.
3. Reattach the grounding wire screw with the Philips screwdriver.
4. Carefully lift the cover back up and over the hinge. Reconnect the wiring plug if needed.
5. Insert and tighten the 3 cover screws with the Philips screwdriver.
6. Snap the small cover panels back into place over the door hinge stoppers. Ensure the arrows point down.

With that, the hinge replacement is complete! Plug the refrigerator back in and verify normal operation. Door realignment may be needed after a day or two once the seals expand.

More information

We hope this article helped you replace the Lower Door Hinge DA82-01244A on your Samsung refrigerator. If you’d like to watch the full repair, you can do so here. 

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over 2 million parts and most orders arrive in 2-3 business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

In the meantime, you can explore our DIY blog and watch thousands of video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

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