Door loose when closed.....help please
 

Hey the passenger side door on my 83 is loose or not tight when closed i can move it back and forth about a 1/2 an inch when close....its not loose at the hinge side just the latch side....any input will be appreciated thanx

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

Yea same thing here, I am thinking of moving the striker but I will be watching this thread for more input.

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

striker

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

r u saying the striker need to be replaced?

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

The strike might need adjusting, but there's also a little plastic sleeve, or collar that slides on the strike to take up the gap,.. that's what happened to mine.... as my doors were rattling too... changed those.. and presto!! tight doors

tried adjusting the heck out of the striker.. but nothing...realized that the original ones... had got brittle and fell off...

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

It's called the Door Striker Bushing... check out the catalog:

http://www.classicparts.com/Latches/products/1000/

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

are you sure that you can take the washer off to replace that bushing ?

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

You can still get them from GM. They are cheap plus no shipping at the dealer. Jay

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

yes

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

I just replaced mine. I first did it with hard plastic bushings from one of the local autoparts stores (the Help stuff). They were quite brittle and broke after a few weeks. I just redid it with the classic parts sleeves (link in thread). They seem to be working great.

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

I just assumed he had checked the Striker Bushing so adjusting the striker is what I figured. if the bushings are bad, that would take care of it. Still may have to readjust the striker a little. When you take it off to put the bushing on, try to mark it some how.

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

The plastic bushings do indeed wear and require replacement, many times because of door hinge issues, take care of that first. But.....

Many times these are adjusted too tight.
The door doesn't close far enough, so the logical answer is to move the strike pin inward, to pull the door closed.
A crazy as it sounds, that is backward. More the pin outward and the door will close better. There are 2 latching points in the latch. If the door "latches" but is not closed, it is only on the first catch. It you move the pin out, it will close onto the second catch....and actually be closed.

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

The striker bushings are available at most auto parts stores in the "help" line of parts, I bought a pack (had I think 6 bushings in it) for just a couple bucks. And yes the washer closest to the bushing does come off, it fits pretty snug on there, just twist the striker out of the washer like removing a nut, its pretty simple.

Re: Door loose when closed.....help please
 

thanks for the input guys. i have the same problem and actually know how to fix it. thanks