Aftermarket door latches

[Bitch'nBronco]

I've got aftermarket replacement door latches in my bronco and both of them keep coming loose. I think its because the 3 screws that mount the latch to the door, thread into plastic retainers instead of tapped steel like the stock ones did. Has anyone else had this problem? Wondering if I should either pop the plastic retainers out, tap the latch and install larger screws or just run lock nuts on the back side of the plastic inserts to sandwich the latch to the door.

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

 

[Wrightracing]

I am not sure if it will work, but one thing to consider is a metal nutsert of some type to replace the plastic. Just a thought.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[papy]

I've got aftermarket replacement door latches in my bronco and both of them keep coming loose. I think its because the 3 screws that mount the latch to the door, thread into plastic retainers instead of tapped steel like the stock ones did. Has anyone else had this problem? Wondering if I should either pop the plastic retainers out, tap the latch and install larger screws or just run lock nuts on the back side of the plastic inserts to sandwich the latch to the door.

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

i experienced the same on a different application however the same problem with the new lower window glass runs. i used a slightly longer machined bolts than the stock ones and used regular nuts from the inside as a jam nuts.

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

i experienced the same on a different application however the same problem with the new lower window glass runs. i used a slightly longer machined bolts than the stock ones and used regular nuts from the inside as a jam nuts.

Thats kind of what I was thinking. Having the screws back out and not be able to hold their torque is super annoying. Thanks

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

I am not sure if it will work, but one thing to consider is a metal nutsert of some type to replace the plastic. Just a thought.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Not a bad idea, I wonder if I can find one that small

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

 

[JB Fab]

I had problems with the latches from multiple sources.
Until I tried Dennis Carpenter, now they are the only ones I will use....

 

[56f100bbw]

J. ward at Icon bronco rebuilds the original ones he doesn’t like any reproduction door latches as of a year ago

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

I'd love to buy new ones, just got bigger fish to fry right now. I've heard the dennis carpenter ones are nice. I really wish I had just fixed the stock ones like mentioned above instead of selling them back in 08 lol

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

 

[DirtDonk]

That's the first I've heard of them having plastic inserts. What a pain and what a not-so-great better idea! Especially for Broncos that get slammed so often.
Maybe that's ok for a Mustang, which is what most of these are developed for most likely anyway, but pretty much a no-go on a Bronco to my mind.
I'll have to see if ours are all that way now. They were not before, and I have some I've used with no trouble at all. But Dennis Carpenter is one of our sources too, so maybe that's why I have not heard of it before.

Seems a strange thing to change. Does not seem like a way to save money, but then I don't know how much the process of punching a hole in steel costs.

As long as the originals are not broken, or completely worn out, they can be reconditioned fairly easily. It's literally as simple as cleaning right down to the zinc plating, straightening any bent bits and pieces, replacing any broken springs, lightly lubing them up, and Bob's 'yer uncle!

A nut-sert or that longer screw and nut trick seem like good alternatives for the plastic inserts.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[DrDanWWW]

Yep, TBPs driver door latch didn't latch after a few times. I cleaned up the old one and it works just fine. You're not alone!

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

That's the first I've heard of them having plastic inserts. What a pain and what a not-so-great better idea! Especially for Broncos that get slammed so often.
Maybe that's ok for a Mustang, which is what most of these are developed for most likely anyway, but pretty much a no-go on a Bronco to my mind.
I'll have to see if ours are all that way now. They were not before, and I have some I've used with no trouble at all. But Dennis Carpenter is one of our sources too, so maybe that's why I have not heard of it before.

Seems a strange thing to change. Does not seem like a way to save money, but then I don't know how much the process of punching a hole in steel costs.

As long as the originals are not broken, or completely worn out, they can be reconditioned fairly easily. It's literally as simple as cleaning right down to the zinc plating, straightening any bent bits and pieces, replacing any broken springs, lightly lubing them up, and Bob's 'yer uncle!

A nut-sert or that longer screw and nut trick seem like good alternatives for the plastic inserts.

Good luck.

Paul

Thanks Paul, i bought them a while ago and I'm guessing that the repop door latches have come a long way. The dennis carpenter latches are a lot cheaper than I expected, if lock nuts don't solve the problem I'll be buying some of those. Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

Yep, TBPs driver door latch didn't latch after a few times. I cleaned up the old one and it works just fine. You're not alone!

I think I bought these from Toms, realllly wish I had refurbished the stockers

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

 

[DirtDonk]

The real trick is getting all of that 40-50 year old gunk off of the old ones.
In fact, "Gunk" does not work as a cleaner in this case, unless yours are very lightly soiled. I had to soak them in the old Chem-Dip tank and that finally took it all down to bare metal and gave me a good place to start.
Different methods have been used successfully, but that's what worked for me.

Paul

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

Its fixed! Thanks for the recommendations. I wound up buying a pair of stock latches, cleaned them, lubed them with some Dupont white lithium teflon grease and installed them. Couldn't be happier with how they work, such an nice crisp latch sound with not much button pressure to actuate them.

While I had it apart I wrapped the bottom of my door panels in Alcantara to match the new mastercrafts (whenever those show up off of backorder). Looks much nicer than the black rattle can paint the aclantera is hiding lol

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

 

[DirtDonk]

Great to hear! Nothing quite like the nice crisp sound of a well working door latch!

Paul