Door problems....

[Big Sexy]

Gentlemen,

I need to fix an inop door handle release – the door does not stay shut most of the time on the passenger side. When I thumb squeeze the door grab, it is ‘spongy’. I imagine that there is a linkage that is off at this point ? Thoughts / suggestions



Also, what is the best way to remove the door panel without damaging it?



Thanks in advance.

 

[Tom FJ55]

I just did this to all 4 of the doors on my '72 55. To get the door panels off, you need to remove the arm rest (2 large philips screws), the window crank (tricky C clip), and the door opening handle cover (1 small philips screw) - that's for my '72, others could be different?

To pry off the panel, I used a long flat bladed screwdriver and carefully popped out all the clips one-by-one. Once you've popped out all the clips, the panel comes off. There was plastic glued to the door underneath the panel on my doors - no doubt to protect the panels from water. I had to make a few slits in the plastic to access the door opening linkage and handle from the inside.

Once I had access, I lubed everything up with some spray type lithium grease to the linkage parts and some grease from my finger on the door release nub that's activated when you use the release button from the outside. I had some VERY sticky release buttons and they are now silky smooth after some attention.

Once you pop the panel off and look around, it's a lot more obvious than my description above! Good luck!

Tom

 

[onemanarmy]

What Tom said..I took off the panel, sprayed everything down with brake clean, then sprayed everything with some silcon based lube. Do the door locks too. Mine work great. Now just have to fix the sagging hinges.

 

[snailwagon]

Very common problem, just dirty linkage in need of lube. When you pull out the panel a lot of the plastic inserts may break. I found replacements made of nylon at our local hardware store. They look diffferent, more like a tiny leaf spring bushing, but work great.

 

[htownfire]

I had the same prob too clean and lube. I also had to make a back spacer for the door catch it works great now.