Drivers door troubles -- advice please

[Hodag]

My drivers side door on my 74' Pig is giving me fits.

First problem - it wont always close. I slam it and it pops back open, or worse, it seems to close and then flings open at inopportune moments (like going around a corner). Other times, it shuts and latches with minimal effort. Ive lubed and adjusted everything I can think of, but nothing seems to work.

Second problem - The window track at the latch end of the door was recently found lying in the bottom of the door. It looks like it broke off where it bends to be attached to the door. I think I could weld it up, but I dont know how I would get inside the door. It looks like the part that is left behind is spot welded in. Should I drill out the welds, fix the bracket and spot weld it back in??

Enough for today, Hodag

 

[Pighead]

Ah yes, Hodag, the Door of Many Slams Syndrome. I had been experiencing that myself lately.
I noticed that the little gear (it's got, like 6 teeth to it) thingy in the door latch was loose. I could wiggle it around with my finger. The other door's little gear thingy was much tighter. I also noticed that the little gear thingy was held in place by the stamped metal latch housing. You can see this too. I figgered that if I could peen the housing in a little, it would decrease the play that the little gear thingy had.
Note: you gotta remove the latch before you pound on it. Otherwise the door frame bends.
But, I never fully investigated that possible remedy. Once I had the latch out I just replaced it with another driver side door latch from the Pigdoor cache in my basement.
Another possible remedy I was thinkin' of but never fully investigated...Wonder if a rear door latch could be transplanted to a front door?
Also, I adjusted my striker as far laterally (outwards) as it would go and used an impact driver to tighten the 3 big screws.
Nowdays, my door stays shut on the first slam.
Your second problem...Oooh. That bites. Looking at doors here, did your window track break off from the bottom bracket, or did the bracket itself break? It is a pretty flimsy looking bracket now that you mention it. But that window track is supposed to be one, straight piece from the bottom bracket up to the top of the window frame. If your track broke off, it's going to be a real pain to weld up at the top. I don't have an easy answer for that one.

 

[snailwagon]

Hodag, I'd guess that these problems never occured before replacing your door weatherstripping. I remember you using the jc whitney stuff, which at first glance was cool, but is actually way too big. I tried it, then went to SOR weatherstripping, which is also too big. Then I had that problem of having to slam the door very hard and occasionally havingi it swing open when turning sharp. My problem was mainly from the latch that attaches to the door pillar. It would keep sliding down about 3 mm., no matter how tight I made those screws. Then I loosened it, moved it out as much as possible, and put a spot weld underneath it to keep it from moving. Problem solved.

 

[cruiserbrett]

I too experience the problem of the track breaking off. I took the door panel off and tack welded it on. working still, although I did replace the door latch on the door and the little star regulator with a much better one, and voila! no more slamming. Also installed new weatherstripping, which holds much better pressure on the door. Its not harder to close, just seems to be more springy and press against the latching mech action better.

Before you go wasting too much time, you really should rebush the door hinges, or buy refurbished ones from www.sor.com You will otherwise be wasting your time trying to adjust the door.


also, maybe we can talk one of out RH drive friends to gather up as many of the left front door mechanisms and catch from their FJ55's down under. I bought one a while back and it has so much less wear and tear than my left front one(since its a passenger door there) that I thought the truck was new.

Oh, dont slam your door with the window down!!!! it justs makes the tack breaking inevitable.

 

[snailwagon]

How does one rebush the door hinges? Both of my front doors have worn hinges, which was part of the equation with my door problems.
Also, if you ever have a chance to buy a door regulator in good shape, do it. I've managed to hoard a few over the years. When I first got my 55, the drivers side door wouldn't close and I couldn't find a good regulator, paid around $60 for that one in perfect shape. Since then I've scrounged some from junk yards and ebay for usually around $5 each. You can drill out the rivets in the regulators and piece them together though.

 

[theSherpa]

credit cruiserbrett for this one...if your driver's door top hinge has play (lift up and down on door while watching hinge to find out), just find yourself a passenger door top hinge. they're a mirror image of the driver's side (just flip it upside down to use it on the driver's side), and they don't wear out like driver's side for obvious reasons.

worked for me!

Steve