Door alignment issues

[enthusiast1977]

Good afternoon all,

I have posted about this before but didn't seem to get a definitive answer so I am starting a fresh thread. I can not seem to get my doors to hang properly. I replaced my driver side door post, door hinges, and kick panel. I tacked it up and rehung the fender and door. The front matches up properly and the measurements are spot on to the factory measurements. (I used the diagram that everyone on here uses and says works perfectly) The problem I am having is that the rear bottom part of the door sticks out a lot. I have come to the realization that it is because my rear door post and rear quarter have settled out. I have found that if I were to push the top of my door post in it would help my alignment. The big question I have is how the heck do I get it to stay "adjusted"? Also what is the best way to bend it back in?

Am I completely nuts or has this happened to anyone else? is the rear post my problem?

Thanks for the help in advance. I will try to get a picture.

 

[TN1776]

Do you have weather stripping installed? Most/all aftermarket rubber will cause what you describe - I am fighting that as well. My doors align nearly perfectly without the rubber.

Also - if the striker is installed, remove it. It is often a lot easier to adjust the door to the frame without it in there, then install it and adjust it to your door.

Unfortunately its just another one of those things that is difficult. Keep at it. I have gotten mine pretty close but my type-a wants them perfect.

 

[Rustytruck]

Have you placed a square on the floor and up the side of the inner bed side? Check side to side. If you welded up the rocker with the bed side out of square you may have to break it loose, shift the bed and reweld the rocker to help lock it back in the proper place. Out at the tailgate end it is easy to jack in place.

 

[pcf_mark]

Shim the top front of the door OUT to push the bottom rear lower IN. Then shim the top of the fender out to match. I think I slotted the something to make that possible on the door. I know both my front fenders have a single shim at the top.

 

[enthusiast1977]

good evening.

not weather stripping.....no in there yet

I did place a square on it and it is not square. it gets farther out of square the higher you go.

here are a couple pictures. I know the picture of the front of the door and the fender are not perfect but I was so far out in back I just wanted it close to see what I was working with.

 

[enthusiast1977]

all wisdom is appreciated. I am thinking I need to shim my body mouths too so the door will close properly.

 

[pcf_mark]

That is some crazy stuff. My first thought is the door is bent or when the door skin was installed it was not square. I am not sure how to confirm that. Allen Fahey may comment.

 

[enthusiast1977]

I hope someone can help because I am lost. I am at the point where I am going to just have to start trying things and hope they work. Not exactly what I want to do but like everyone says trial and error is the only true way to figure out the problem.

 

[Whoaa]

Body mounts are always one of the first places to look for final fitting and adjustment of the doors. However all of the body shims in the world will not correct this door....from the pic's, it appears to me that this door is bent/tweaked.

How does the top of the door line up? At the mid-point of the door, near the striker plate location, its obvious from the pic's that the door is grossly shoved to far in, of course this is exsaserbated the further up you go...and to far *out* towards the bottom of the door.

One way to easily diagnose the problem would have a proffesional body man look at it. A proffesional body man should be able to identify the problem instanly...then you can go fix it. Probably money well spent.

 

[jamesf7278]

how far from the rocker is the front edge of the door? looks like it could come in some. also how is your gap at the top of the rear of the door? if its too tight you might wanna shim the mount behind drivers seat. ( I spent lots of hours shimming mounts and adjusting doors to get them right.) lots of trial and error.

 

[JAFO]

Hard to tell from the pictures, but the picture that lets us see some of the window frame, how it is going up the front windshield frame..... looks like the top of the door is angled in towards the passenger side. Like the front door post bottom is kicked out a bit. I think you need to check all the measurements regarding the front door post. Mainly where the bottom of the door post attaches to the floor and such.

Maybe you can approach it like this...remove the fender and then adjust the door (hinges) until you have the door lined up properly with the rear post. See how the door is also lining up with the windshield frame. If all that looks good, look at the front post and try to see if the post is way off. Maybe make some marks as to how to change the front post location.

 

[reynard101]

I think the door is fine. It looks like the body, behind the doors is bowed outward at the top. I've seen some rollbars that have tabs are used to "hold" the upper body together.

Measure the inside of the of the top of the tub behind the doors. I know there are a few measurement diagrams floating around, compare it. Also, how does the tailgate fit (especially at the top of the tailgate)?

 

[enthusiast1977]

Thanks guys! That is what I was looking for. I am going to try to get in to work on it a few times over the next couple weeks. I am going to start with some shimming mounts and move to a final hinge adjustment. If this does not work I will ask the pro. I will keep you all posted. I appreciate the time you guys took to help.

 

[enthusiast1977]

"I think the door is fine. It looks like the body, behind the doors is bowed outward at the top. I've seen some rollbars that have tabs are used to "hold" the upper body together.

Measure the inside of the of the top of the tub behind the doors. I know there are a few measurement diagrams floating around, compare it. Also, how does the tailgate fit (especially at the top of the tailgate)?"

The Tailgate is actually not on. I bought a new one and had to get it primed. The roll bar I have has the tabs. I am thinking it is going to be a combination of all three suggestions......Obviously it is getting the correct amount of all the ingredients to make it look good enough that i am ok with it. I am going to re-install my gate before I start any of this. it would be a huge bummer if the doors look great and the gate wont shut!

 

[reynard101]

You can also put a ratchet strap and gently pull the sides together (No Popeye strength needed). Just a little to see if it helps the gap.

 

[Crawdad]

Can you get some pics of where the door comes together with the windshield? I'd also get the measurements of tub width at the back of seats and compare it to the measurement towards the rear. Post them and let's discuss. Subscribed.

 

[Galt72]

your door picture looks just like the fix in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPllujn9XXk

 

[NGABronco]

Galt, that is a great video!!!

The same can be said for the body mount behind the seat as far as adjusting the door opening. I'm gonna' keep that video cause it's hard to explain that procedure...seeing is believing!!!
Thanks for posting!!!;D;D

 

[Galt72]

Thanks found it by accident last night. My passenger door kicks out a bit at the bottom as well when it's together. I'll be trying this technique when its time to reassemble. Amazing how something so many struggle with could possibly end up being so simple.

 

[enthusiast1977]

oh man! I can't wait to try that!!!!!! thanks so much. I should have an update this weekend!