Who makes the best door latches???????

[steveo3318]

My doors are aligned pretty nicely and have been adjusted 10 times with no improvement. Weatherstrip is broken in and still have issues when windows are down. My issue is both doors have to be slammed pretty good to latch. They have the original latches and strikers that look pretty worn. Who makes the best new latches???? Also I have a Phillips screw holding the old latch in that's frozen and stripped. I am guessing that drilling it out is my best option?

Anything else I should replace while I am in there? The doors do have to be pushed in when I lock them from the outside!!!!

[Lanman1972]

I tried the aftermarket latches from 2 different vendors and did not like the results. I am using the originals again. Curious what others say.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by steveo3318

Who makes the best new latches????

GM. No substitute for OEM.

[steveo3318]

But can NOS gm be found?

[67ChevyRedneck]

My original driver side latch finally broke (with an explosion of metal parts falling inside the door) and for the heck of it, I ordered replacements for both sides from Summit, Goodmark label. The DS worked well. I did have to grind a bit off the back side of the latch where it meets the striker as it was dragging on the striker (not a big deal) and it worked well. My PS I've had to slam for years to get it to shut, tried adjusting everything, etc... nothing made it better. I installed the new PS latch just this past weekend and I can push the door closed with two fingers.

While NOS is likely the best, the goodmark latches were a decent option (I've can't recall ever seeing an NOS set pop up anywhere).

My doors now open/shut with ease. I'm happy.

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by Fitz

GM. No substitute for OEM.

Originally Posted by steveo3318

But can NOS gm be found?

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

While NOS is likely the best, the goodmark latches were a decent option (I've can't recall ever seeing an NOS set pop up anywhere).

For that special build or deserving truck nothing beats original GM when it comes to this type of wear parts. These door hardware parts have all been discontinued by GM years ago with prices at $200. per door latch alone, most dont want to pay what this stuff cost new from GM when it was still available. Mel

[steveo3318]

How much for that whole setup bowtie

[leftybass209]

I used one from the truck and car shop, a counterparts brand item. I was in a rush to get my door to latch after my original had rounded out the pivot hole, and the rivet slipped through.

It's a surprisingly nice piece, and I'm sure it would last a long time if the door seals were correct. I did have to bed it in, and use some grease. Took roughly 50 times operating it on the bench with grease before it would operate smoothly. It was riveted really tight.

Slamming is what kills these things.

[steveo3318]

Thanks guys but I am in a bind and needed several parts so I just ordered alot of door stuff from LMC. I hope I don't regret it. I am in the process of putting hushmat in the doors as well so no better time to fix this stuff.