Vert and T Top Door Wedges
#1
Vert and T Top Door Wedges
The little silver wedge in this picture-
How do you adjust these and how close should the door side and pillar side get when the door is closed? I have a feeling my passenger side is the source of the chirping when I'm driving. Any findings, observations welcome. Also how do you even adjust them if I needed to ?
How do you adjust these and how close should the door side and pillar side get when the door is closed? I have a feeling my passenger side is the source of the chirping when I'm driving. Any findings, observations welcome. Also how do you even adjust them if I needed to ?
#2
Moderator
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
Please note that the wedge in this picture is backwards!
This wedge is more than likely your door chirping issue. I had that problem with mine. The only adjustment is to remove it and add shims or remove shims. My driver door had two shims under it and I removed one. It wasn't a problem for many years, then one day I noticed the chirping. After lots of tinkering, I removed a shim. The problem is that the door is heavy and has probably started to sag at the rear causing it to rest on the wedge. By removing a shim, the door is not resting tightly against this, so no noise. Just keep the shim in case you need to replace the door hinge and want to build it back up.
The wedge does not provide for a gap. It keeps the door edge from impacting the door jamb during body flex and causing paint and/or body damage. It should not be used to maintain the proper gap.
This wedge is more than likely your door chirping issue. I had that problem with mine. The only adjustment is to remove it and add shims or remove shims. My driver door had two shims under it and I removed one. It wasn't a problem for many years, then one day I noticed the chirping. After lots of tinkering, I removed a shim. The problem is that the door is heavy and has probably started to sag at the rear causing it to rest on the wedge. By removing a shim, the door is not resting tightly against this, so no noise. Just keep the shim in case you need to replace the door hinge and want to build it back up.
The wedge does not provide for a gap. It keeps the door edge from impacting the door jamb during body flex and causing paint and/or body damage. It should not be used to maintain the proper gap.
#3
On Probation
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
Yup backwards.
These are the striker wedges that GM used till 86?
These are on my 84 Z and my 72 convert.
These are used on 87? and up.
Heres a correct install pic:
These are the striker wedges that GM used till 86?
These are on my 84 Z and my 72 convert.
These are used on 87? and up.
Heres a correct install pic:
Last edited by sonjaab; 02-19-2013 at 11:49 AM.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
Car: 87 Trans Am, 99 WS6, 16 Mustang GT
Engine: LB9, LS1
Transmission: 700R4, T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Posi, 4.10 Posi
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
Always wondered why that was there. It's a little scary that the body flexes so much it needs a stopper to avoid touching the quarter.
#6
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: lovespark,IL
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 87 firebird did V8 swap
Engine: sbc 350
Transmission: 700r4 shift kit and stall
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
these on firebirds right cause my car doesnt have them its a 87 firebird
#7
On Probation
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
They are usually only on factory t-top or convert. GM cars.
Hardtops usually don't have them.
Hardtops usually don't have them.
Trending Topics
#9
On Probation
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
No need to feel dumb..............
Many folks and me included don't know everything about these cars.
We come here to find out!
Many folks and me included don't know everything about these cars.
We come here to find out!
#10
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: lovespark,IL
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 87 firebird did V8 swap
Engine: sbc 350
Transmission: 700r4 shift kit and stall
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
thanks and this forum has helped me all threw my car so far and i hope it will in the future when i open a shop
#11
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
My car (1991 TA T-tops) needs door wedges. I think they are different for the later cars - plastic, and look just like a door stop wedge.
Anybody have a pic of what the newer style looks like? Any sources to buy them?
Anybody have a pic of what the newer style looks like? Any sources to buy them?
#13
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Boston, MA.
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: Carb'd L31 Vortec 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 4th gen torsen / 3.23
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
#14
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: '84 Firebird TA & '87 Camaro LT
Engine: 350 V-8 & V-6
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 & 3.42
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
From the GM T-Top Waterleak Manual:
Door and Body Lock Pillar Wedge Plates
Before adjusting the lift-oft panel or door glass make sure that the door to lock pillar makes contact.
The door side of wedge plate is a plastic material, and the lock pillar side of wedge plate is stamped metal.
To check wedge plate contact, proceed as follows:
Open door and apply a piece of masking tape over the body lock pillar wedge plate. Close door and reopen. Then, check tape.
If tape IS NOT torn, add additional shims as required. Shims are available for door and body side wedges.
Perform the check again, if the tape IS torn, alignment is correct.
Door and Body Lock Pillar Wedge Plates
Before adjusting the lift-oft panel or door glass make sure that the door to lock pillar makes contact.
The door side of wedge plate is a plastic material, and the lock pillar side of wedge plate is stamped metal.
To check wedge plate contact, proceed as follows:
Open door and apply a piece of masking tape over the body lock pillar wedge plate. Close door and reopen. Then, check tape.
If tape IS NOT torn, add additional shims as required. Shims are available for door and body side wedges.
Perform the check again, if the tape IS torn, alignment is correct.
#16
Moderator
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
No. The body side is the metal that's seen in post 1. The plastic is the door side. The link in post 13 are the shims to build up the body side.
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Shorewood Illinois
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 IROC Convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: auto
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
I am looking for a good way to tighten up the spacing on my door wedges. Looks like wedge shim part numbers 20452860 (is 2mm thick) and 20452861 (is 1mm thick) are pretty scarce. Anyone have any experience making/finding/using these? Right now the wedges on the post don't touch the door wedge at all when the car is flat and level. They hit when the body flexes and rattle or squeak. The service manual says achieve a friction fit and Hal87 had a good reference to a water-leak manual about using tape to get a good fit. Has anyone tried the CamaroCentral "1982 - 1992 Camaro Door Jam Alignment Wedge to Body Rubber Seals". Thanks
#19
Supreme Member
iTrader: (58)
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
In the glory days, a trip to a junkyard or two would probably yield a pocket full of shims. Might be worth a shot now, or put a want ad in the classifieds. When all else fails, get ahold of one or a pattern, and get yourself some steel shim stock. Shouldn't be too hard to cut them by hand. Hacksaw, maybe a little file or Dremel action to make em pretty...
#20
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Shorewood Illinois
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 IROC Convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: auto
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
OK, here is some info.
20452860 (0.041 thick) and 20452861(0.082 thick) are made of plastic not metal.
All adjustment shims mount to the door not behind the silver wedge on the post of the body.
The rubber gasket behind the silver wedge on the post is about .079 thick and is soft rubber.
Because of the soft rubber behind the silver wedge, the screws holding the wedge come loose and will damage the matching plastic block on the door. Make sure to loctite the screws.
As Found, my car had 5 of 20452860 for a total of 0.207 inch shim on the drivers door and 1 of 20452861 with 4 of 20452860 for a total of 0.248 on the passenger door. Two of the shims on the passenger door were broken and fell apart when I took the screws loose. This may have happened because the outboard screw on the silver wedge had backed out from the post and was hitting the matching plastic wedge on the passenger door.
My Fix: I found some rubber conveyer belt material that is .206 thick and cut it to match the outline of the 2045286*. The rubber is pretty firm. Much stiffer than the gasket behind the silver wedge, but not like hard plastic. Pretty lucky huh. I replaced 5 of 20452860 on both doors with the new rubber shims I made. Then added two of 20452860 to the drivers door, for a total of 0.288 and 4 of the same to the passenger door for a total of 0.370. Because of the new shim depth, I had to replace the stock screws with longer ones. Door alignment is still perfect. I was surprised by how much I had to add to get it snug.
The Difference? Now it sounds like an American Car when you shut the doors. Rattle has stopped when I hit bumps. Pics below.
PN 20452860
Broken 20452861
Top is rubber behind silver wedge. Note that the shim screw holes are closer together than the gasket holes.
Tape before adjustment.
Tape after adjustment.
New rubber shim backing up 4 OEM shims.
Damage to door wedge from loose screw.
20452860 (0.041 thick) and 20452861(0.082 thick) are made of plastic not metal.
All adjustment shims mount to the door not behind the silver wedge on the post of the body.
The rubber gasket behind the silver wedge on the post is about .079 thick and is soft rubber.
Because of the soft rubber behind the silver wedge, the screws holding the wedge come loose and will damage the matching plastic block on the door. Make sure to loctite the screws.
As Found, my car had 5 of 20452860 for a total of 0.207 inch shim on the drivers door and 1 of 20452861 with 4 of 20452860 for a total of 0.248 on the passenger door. Two of the shims on the passenger door were broken and fell apart when I took the screws loose. This may have happened because the outboard screw on the silver wedge had backed out from the post and was hitting the matching plastic wedge on the passenger door.
My Fix: I found some rubber conveyer belt material that is .206 thick and cut it to match the outline of the 2045286*. The rubber is pretty firm. Much stiffer than the gasket behind the silver wedge, but not like hard plastic. Pretty lucky huh. I replaced 5 of 20452860 on both doors with the new rubber shims I made. Then added two of 20452860 to the drivers door, for a total of 0.288 and 4 of the same to the passenger door for a total of 0.370. Because of the new shim depth, I had to replace the stock screws with longer ones. Door alignment is still perfect. I was surprised by how much I had to add to get it snug.
The Difference? Now it sounds like an American Car when you shut the doors. Rattle has stopped when I hit bumps. Pics below.
PN 20452860
Broken 20452861
Top is rubber behind silver wedge. Note that the shim screw holes are closer together than the gasket holes.
Tape before adjustment.
Tape after adjustment.
New rubber shim backing up 4 OEM shims.
Damage to door wedge from loose screw.
#23
Banned
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 19
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1989 Firebird Trans Am
Engine: 5.7L
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
Does anyone know what part number or where I can get the plastic block that Rustynut55 was talking about? I can't for the life of me find that piece, it sits on the door and hits against the silver wedge when the door is shut. Thanks for all the helpful advice in this thread!
Alternatively, if anyone needs a trashcan to throw an extra plastic block in, I can dress up as one.
Alternatively, if anyone needs a trashcan to throw an extra plastic block in, I can dress up as one.
Last edited by Kry; 09-05-2018 at 06:54 PM.
#24
Supreme Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,689
Received 745 Likes
on
505 Posts
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Vert and T Top Door Wedges
I grab them from 1991-2 f-cars in the junkyards. Those years use plastic wedges on both sides.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1992 Trans Am
History / Originality
27
05-10-2023 07:19 PM