My door has been sagging ever so slightly lately. Its not like the door doesn't open and closely properly all the time, its just it takes a lot of effort to "PUSH" the door open, and "SLAM" it shut these days. There are days when talking dirty to the car allows for the door to open and close without effort

I've done that test where you open the door fully and lift it up and down to see if there is any play with the bushings...there isn't. The whole car just moves...so I think the bushings are fine.

The striker bolt doesn't seem to be very adjustable. I had seen a recomendation for a door alignment tool ( http://http://www.top-downsolutions....1c42df6e2bfc2b ), but don't see how thats going to do anything if you can't adjust that bolt?

Any help would be appreciated

 

If you find the door latch is catching on the door striker bolt, more than likely either the hinges have worn or the door hinge has bent from the weight of that long heavy door (or both). Test the condition of your door hinges first. Open the door fully and lift up on the end of the door while someone watches the hinge for movement. The striker bolt isn't adjustable for location. You could remove it and elongate the hole, but I wouldn't recommend it. If you find the door hinges are OK, then you may need to just re-align the door using that tool I sell. The tool will allow you to correct the alignment by re-bending the hinge back to its original location.

FYI, I also repair hinges for my local customers using the 3rdGen Solutions repair kit I sell. The last door I replaced had VERY badly worn hinges. The lower hinge bushings were broken and 80% missing. The holes were so worn that I had to use JB Weld to reinstall them. I also had to use JB Weld when installing one of the new upper hinge bushings. Getting back to my reason to mention this. I was amazed that the door required no alignment after the hinge repair. It just closed beautifully. I've had to align all the other doors I've done to-date using that tool. It just illustrates that either condition (worn hinges or sagged hinges) can cause the problem you are experiencing.

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

Oops...the link was

http://www.top-downsolutions.com/pro...1c42df6e2bfc2b

Any ways, I'll try moving the door up and down again..this time with someone checking the hinges out.

Thanks

 

I had someone check the hinges as I lifted the door up and down...the bushings are solid. The door has just drooped a bit. I'll be getting that tool shortly.

 

Wouldn't it be better to MIG the holes back up instead of J.B. weld? Reason I ask is because I am about to get the deluxe repair kit from Hawks and when I remove the bushings if the hinge itself is worn I would probably try to add surface with MIG welding... I can see the reasoning for JB weld for simplicity sake though. Would it hold up ok? I don't want to go through the hassle of welding, grinding and drilling unless I have to though.

 

I suppose you could MIG weld the holes. But do you have a right-angle head drill to re-drill them to size after? I don't. My best recommendation is to replace them LONG BEFORE they are worn to that degree.

Lon

 

Well, I thought I'd try adjusting my door the old fashion way....with a jack and a 2x4 for support. It worked!

 

I just redid my hinge on the drivers side with the Top Down Solutions kit. I was experiencing the same thing you were. I felt no play when lifting the door and decided to try it any way. It worked like a dream. The door feels like new and doesn't catch anything now. By the way Lon, shipping was incredibly fast. The only down fall of the product itself is the lack of pictures along with the instructions. What the h3ll is a swage anyway Keep up the good work.

 

I'm glad you were succesfull in installing the kit. If I had created the instructions, you'd have pictures. There are pictures of the steps on 3rgGenSolutions web site. Andy was in my area today on business. I got to meet with him and Pam for roughly 15 minutes before they had to catch their flight back home. He kept raving about my car. I like it.

Back to work.

Lon