Door latches - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GMC Canuck · 02-01-2016, 03:16 PM

This has probably come up dozens of times before but I'm struggling to get the door latch adjusted properly. The door latch is hitting the striker plate and I need a ridiculous amount of shims. There is a very fine line between having the door latch out far enough to clear the striker plate and the bolt heads of the striker plate hitting the door. I tried shimming the door hinge to lessen the gap at the rear of the door as much as I could but it still doesn't seem to line up right. I'm using new door latches but on closer inspection they look a little different from my old ones. The outer piece that is contacting the striker looks like it's cut on an angle on the new one.

Lanman1972 · 02-01-2016, 04:23 PM

The aftermarket latches are not good. I had the same problem. I cut and ground the new latch to get them to work, and after awhile of it working it broke the rivet loose and would not latch. I went back to my original latches.

GMC Canuck · 02-02-2016, 01:44 AM

Thanks. I'm going to fire the original (possibly oem) latch in the p/s and see how it lines up. The drivers side is a little worn out. Thought I was doing the right thing by replacing the old worn out mechanisms but I think I created a new problem. Glad I didn't paint them yet.

**Hart_Rod** · 11-28-2016, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMC Canuck

Thanks. I'm going to fire the original (possibly oem) latch in the p/s and see how it lines up. The drivers side is a little worn out. Thought I was doing the right thing by replacing the old worn out mechanisms but I think I created a new problem. Glad I didn't paint them yet.

what did you figure out on this issue?

GMC Canuck · 11-28-2016, 03:06 PM

Right now I have the OEM latch in the passenger side and it lines up fine and I modified the new latch for the driver's side.

**randy.powell** · 11-29-2016, 07:34 AM

Lanman mailed it! The aftermarket latches SUCK! Canuck, I had the exact same issues as you with the aftermarket latches. Spent hours messing with those things (just driver side) only to end up with the same results.

Normally your passenger side will be ok, driver side not, as it gets so much more wear.

My solution was to shop and shop and shop and shop until I found a set of NOS.

Not cheap but they fit and work as they should.

Maybe one of these days the aftermarket manufacturers will realize what they sell is CRAP and try to remedy the situation.

Keep watching the parts for sale forum as they come up occasionally...

B/R,
Randy

coreyjhen · 11-30-2016, 01:31 PM

I'm thinking of giving these people a try: http://www.hoodhingerepair.com/ to restore my very worn original hinges and latches.

Has anyone dealt with them?

02-01-2016, 03:16 PM	#1
GMC Canuck Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Ingersoll, Ontario Posts: 93	Door latches This has probably come up dozens of times before but I'm struggling to get the door latch adjusted properly. The door latch is hitting the striker plate and I need a ridiculous amount of shims. There is a very fine line between having the door latch out far enough to clear the striker plate and the bolt heads of the striker plate hitting the door. I tried shimming the door hinge to lessen the gap at the rear of the door as much as I could but it still doesn't seem to line up right. I'm using new door latches but on closer inspection they look a little different from my old ones. The outer piece that is contacting the striker looks like it's cut on an angle on the new one.

02-01-2016, 04:23 PM	#2
Lanman1972 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Omaha NE Posts: 620	Re: Door latches The aftermarket latches are not good. I had the same problem. I cut and ground the new latch to get them to work, and after awhile of it working it broke the rivet loose and would not latch. I went back to my original latches.

02-02-2016, 01:44 AM	#3
GMC Canuck Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Ingersoll, Ontario Posts: 93	Re: Door latches Thanks. I'm going to fire the original (possibly oem) latch in the p/s and see how it lines up. The drivers side is a little worn out. Thought I was doing the right thing by replacing the old worn out mechanisms but I think I created a new problem. Glad I didn't paint them yet.

11-28-2016, 03:06 PM	#5
GMC Canuck Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Ingersoll, Ontario Posts: 93	Re: Door latches Right now I have the OEM latch in the passenger side and it lines up fine and I modified the new latch for the driver's side.

11-29-2016, 07:34 AM	#6
randy.powell Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bushwood, MD Posts: 510	Re: Door latches Lanman mailed it! The aftermarket latches SUCK! Canuck, I had the exact same issues as you with the aftermarket latches. Spent hours messing with those things (just driver side) only to end up with the same results. Normally your passenger side will be ok, driver side not, as it gets so much more wear. My solution was to shop and shop and shop and shop until I found a set of NOS. Not cheap but they fit and work as they should. Maybe one of these days the aftermarket manufacturers will realize what they sell is CRAP and try to remedy the situation. Keep watching the parts for sale forum as they come up occasionally... B/R, Randy

11-30-2016, 01:31 PM	#7
coreyjhen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 110	Re: Door latches I'm thinking of giving these people a try: http://www.hoodhingerepair.com/ to restore my very worn original hinges and latches. Has anyone dealt with them?

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