17 replies to this topic

[screech]

Hey guys.

Iv just fitted new doors, well, reskinned a better pair than I had, along with various other panels etc.
I'm just doing the finishing touches now, and I noticed tje drivers door struggles to close.
The last 2 or 3 inches are stiff, a bit of clicking/squeaking comes from the front of the door, and the A panel and wing and flexing out slightly.
I took the new rubber off around the front part and it still does it.

Any ideas what could be restricting it??


Cheers.

[JustSteve]

pattern door step by any chance?

[screech]

Nope, door steps were not touched.

Cheers

[Bungle]

check strap need some grease ?

[screech]

It is caked in it, I also removed it to see if any difference, but the wing and a panel still flex and creak :/

Cheers

[jimnali]

A couple of thoughts -

• Have the hinges seized? Make sure that they are free for their full range of travel. If not oil them generously and work them until they are free. A bit heat might be necessary to free them.
• Is the door catching on the a-panel or other body work? You may have to include more shims behind the hinges to give the necessary clearance.

Edited by jimnali, 16 May 2012 - 06:47 PM.

[sonikk4]

Are the countersunk fasteners on the hinges properly fitted??

[ANON]

sounds like the front edge of the door is catching?

[sonikk4]

Post up a picture with the door closed especially along the front of the door to A panel.

[coopersmate]

got to agree sounds like front edge catching. Is the hinge panel sound? Any rust that might be making the hinge and thus door drop?

[screech]

Pretty much everything is new or repaired.

Its a new a panel, hinge panel was stripped and repaired as necessary. None of the hinge mounting holes had to repaired so they are still in the correct place.

The door fits really wells, nothing is catching, the gaps are spot on.

They are new hinges too, so wouldn't expect then to be stuck. Though it does seem the top one is closing all the way and using the panels to flex/bend to finish its job!

Great loooks like the door needs to come off then..??


Cheers

[screech]

Right iv just taken the door off, and the hinges are very tight.

So im guessing the hinge is too tight towards the last bit of travel and its easier for the hinge panel to flex instead..?


Iv taken the top one off and given it a good coating of penetrating oil and tried to work it loose, but still very stiff. Any ideas?


I looked at some hinges yesterday at brighton, but they all seemed very cr@p! Very loose in every direction!



Any ideas.


cheers

[sonikk4]

It does sound hinge related. There are pattern hinges out there that as well as being loose are actually wrong in their thickness as we have found out to our cost.

These hinges that you have got are they original or pattern??

[screech]

The hinges iv got i believe are pattern.

They are very tight though, im thinking maybe the complete extreme against the stupidly loose ones out there!

The passenger side is fine.

Iv just taken the hinges off and smacked the pins out of them, filed down the mating faces slightly, and also tried to knock a bit of the pins. Got them back together, and although they do seem a bit loser, they are still very tight.
Put the door back on, and its still doing it, but maybe not as bad....

So looks like im going to try another pair of hinges.

Genuine ones are way too expensive, and im sure there must be some good pattern ones out there, does anyone know??


cheers

[screech]

Bit of an update on this.

I decided to get a pair of hinges from wood and pickett, usually quite good stuff i thought.
They turned up today, and the top ones isn't too bad, but the bottom one i wouldn't even put on if i needed the car NOW! What a load of cr@p!

So i decided to make do with the top one, as it is a lot looser than the one that was on there, a little wobbly side to side, but not tooooo much.

So got it all back on, and with the front half of the door rubber removed, it shuts fine.

With the door rubber back on, its back to flexing the wing out and resisting.

So am i right in hoping this is now down to the new rubbers and within a bit of use they will bed in and it'll all be fine...?


Cheers