Door Adjustment (Page 2/2)
1985 Fiero GT AUG 29, 12:11 AM

quote
Originally posted by Mike in Sydney:


Why, yes, he did. My bad.

Sorry to mess up your day, 1985 Fiero GT, with that miss on my part.



No problem haha, been there and done that to haha.
Patrick AUG 29, 01:21 AM

quote
Originally posted by Matthew_Fiero:

I was not expecting this to be any more difficult than supporting the door with a jack, loosen the hinge bolts at the chassis, jack up ever so slightly and tighten the bolts. Perhaps there's something I've missed.



Of course, I understand that you've done your due diligence, run a search, and not found anyone else here in 25 years who's ever had a problem with door adjustment.

What's that you say, you didn't look?

Here's just one of many helpful threads - Door adjustment. What a F#$%^&* pain.
Matthew_Fiero AUG 29, 10:59 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

Of course, I understand that you've done your due diligence, run a search, and not found anyone else here in 25 years who's ever had a problem with door adjustment.

What's that you say, you didn't look?

Here's just one of many helpful threads - Door adjustment. What a F#$%^&* pain.



Thank you for sharing the link. I think I've seen every post regarding door adjustment. Which information do you feel is helpful in the link you posted? I see mentioning of shims however the information is vague and perhaps I don't understand right away and would appreciate your perspective.

Thanks!
Mickey_Moose AUG 29, 02:09 PM
How does the door sit when compared to the striker bolt on the frame? Does the striker bolt fall center to the door latch opening?
Patrick AUG 29, 04:05 PM

quote
Originally posted by Matthew_Fiero:

Which information do you feel is helpful in the link you posted?



I realize that not every thread listed was applicable, but I was hoping that among the 38 threads listed, that there would indeed be information that was helpful. I saw the use of shims being mentioned, as well as having to elongate holes to allow more movement of the door. However, It's not my job to inspect each thread that was presented.
Matthew_Fiero AUG 29, 05:18 PM
G
quote
Originally posted by Mickey_Moose:

How does the door sit when compared to the striker bolt on the frame? Does the striker bolt fall center to the door latch opening?



Good question. I was looking at this yesterday and the striker is pretty much at the bottom of the latch opening so even if I wanted to raise the door if I did the striker May go go below the latch.




Perhaps the car has always been like this or it was in an accident long ago. I found a pic from prior to my ownership probably 2002 and the door is not aligned.

Perhaps I have to live with the lip at the dew wipe and raise the door skin to it's max height. It's better than not having the molding lined up.

[This message has been edited by Matthew_Fiero (edited 08-29-2024).]

1985 Fiero GT AUG 29, 06:46 PM
Dumb question probably as I've never ventured into the bodywork, but is there any adjustment in the quarter panel there? If the door striker lines up but the door molding doesn't line up with the quarter molding, perhaps it isn't the doors fault?
Mickey_Moose AUG 31, 08:49 AM
If the striker is aligned, then the door is aligned to the frame correctly and it is something with the body panels.

As you mentioned, maybe it was in an accident, or something else.

I know on my car the right rear quarter panel for some reason does not sit right. There is a fairly large gap between the panel skin and the metal frame work of the B-pillar. It was always like this (original owner). The outer door skin is adjusted outwards to compensate. Had it all apart in the past (hence the missing rivet in the molding) and didn't see anything obvious.

[This message has been edited by Mickey_Moose (edited 08-31-2024).]

82-T/A [At Work] AUG 31, 10:23 AM

quote
Originally posted by Matthew_Fiero:

Hello,

I'm attempting to adjust my driver side door because the rear is sagging and requires me to adjust the outer door skit to it's absolute maximum height to get the molding to line up to the rear quarter panel which looks ridiculous.





Ok, so I read all the responses, and see that you haven't been able to adjust or fix it yet... and that you've done your due diligence on everything, etc. The final solution is literally to "bend" the door frame slightly. This is not abnormal, and it's the "next step" when you've exhausted all other options.

You use a bar like this: https://www.autobodytoolmar...hamp-frame-equipment

... but for the life of me, I have absolutely no idea how it's used. Basically, it hooks in somewhere, and then you bend the entire door up until you get it to match the alignment that you want. There's probably some YouTube videos on it.

My advice though is that you could also use a floor jack... CAREFULLY, on the underside of the door frame itself, to carefully jack up the door to bend the door frame every so slightly in order to get it to align properly. I don't think it would take much.

Make sure that when you finish adjusting the door, you ALSO adjust the door striker on the other side of the door frame... otherwise you'll be forcing the door back into misalignment.


Also... you need these: https://www.fierostore.com/...6%20%20%20%20%20PAIR
reinhart SEP 04, 09:24 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

My advice though is that you could also use a floor jack... CAREFULLY, on the underside of the door frame itself, to carefully jack up the door to bend the door frame every so slightly in order to get it to align properly. I don't think it would take much.


Also... you need these: https://www.fierostore.com/...6%20%20%20%20%20PAIR



I did this. I am pretty sure it's not bending the door but the hinges. You have to bend about an inch past where you want the rub strip and then when you let the door down it settles back to where it should be, but start maybe half inch past and go from there.

I tried everything from changing pins, bushings, hinges, et al. It would never go back up to where it was when I originally got it 15 years ago. Think the hinges just can sag with age. It looks great now, but still doesn't close as nicely as a new door, but I think that's due to the latch wearing as well.