Passenger door stiff/hard to close - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Judgeyoung · 10-25-2019, 11:57 AM

My old '72 GMC is in good original shape. The original door hinges seem to have very little slack. I put new door seals on and they seal great, but even before the weatherstrip replacement, the passenger door has always been very stiff to close. It will stop anywhere in the travel if not pushed and is very stiff to push, requiring a real pull/shove to close well.

I lubed the hinges and the little slider stop piece, but it made no discernible difference, but something is binding.

The driver door is smooth and easy. What am I missing?

Barnfind46 · 10-25-2019, 12:28 PM

Mine did that and I had to saturate the hinges with penetrating oil.Took a little while but it did loosen up.

**Stocker** · 10-25-2019, 12:35 PM

Have you lubed the door latch -- the part at the rear of the door that has the little cogged rotating wheel?

Judgeyoung · 10-25-2019, 02:33 PM

The latch works perfectly. It is the hinge that is stiff making it hard to open and close the door after the latch is released.

Astro-Balls · 10-25-2019, 03:01 PM

Kroil, Its Alien Technology...
https://pilotshq.com/kano-laboratori...CABEgIYo_D_BwE

**Stocker** · 10-25-2019, 03:36 PM

Try removing the door hinge stop to eliminate that as a possible cause. The only thing left will be hinges. Like Barnfind said, a good soak with penetrating oil should help.

BigBird05 · 10-25-2019, 09:26 PM

I can send you a picture of what will happen if you don't get that hinge to operate smoothly. I had to replace the door because the hinge area of the old door (sheet metal) broke out completly. Part of the reason he sold it I think.

tim_mc · 10-27-2019, 05:12 PM

It's also possible that the hinges are out of alignment with each other, causing the door to pinch as it's closed.

**truckster** · 10-27-2019, 05:24 PM

Mine was terrible - bad enough that I thought I needed to replace the hinges. Penetrating oil and patience did the trick. I soaked it and worked it slowly a few times, then soaked it and let it sit a few days. After a couple of weeks it opens like a new door.

vics stuff · 10-28-2019, 03:17 AM

Pull the hinges off and move them to see if they operate smoothly. As mentioned if you keep ignoring this , ultimately you will have to deal with door damage.
Vic

**landarts** · 10-28-2019, 10:05 PM

2nd vote on Kroil, it has amazed me since I started using a few years go. they also sell it in 8 oz cans.

10-25-2019, 11:57 AM	#1
Judgeyoung Registered User Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Abilene, TX Posts: 6	Passenger door stiff/hard to close My old '72 GMC is in good original shape. The original door hinges seem to have very little slack. I put new door seals on and they seal great, but even before the weatherstrip replacement, the passenger door has always been very stiff to close. It will stop anywhere in the travel if not pushed and is very stiff to push, requiring a real pull/shove to close well. I lubed the hinges and the little slider stop piece, but it made no discernible difference, but something is binding. The driver door is smooth and easy. What am I missing?

10-25-2019, 12:28 PM	#2
Barnfind46 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mena,Arkansas Posts: 485	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close Mine did that and I had to saturate the hinges with penetrating oil.Took a little while but it did loosen up. __________________ 68' with no bells or whistles unless I add'em.

10-25-2019, 12:35 PM	#3
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,722	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close Have you lubed the door latch -- the part at the rear of the door that has the little cogged rotating wheel? __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

10-25-2019, 02:33 PM	#4
Judgeyoung Registered User Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Abilene, TX Posts: 6	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close The latch works perfectly. It is the hinge that is stiff making it hard to open and close the door after the latch is released.

10-25-2019, 03:01 PM	#5
Astro-Balls Registered User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 822	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close Kroil, Its Alien Technology... https://pilotshq.com/kano-laboratori...CABEgIYo_D_BwE __________________ 1968 C20 Fleetside 396 4sp PS PB AC CST . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWK8GgWD4uA

10-25-2019, 03:36 PM	#6
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,722	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close Try removing the door hinge stop to eliminate that as a possible cause. The only thing left will be hinges. Like Barnfind said, a good soak with penetrating oil should help. __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

10-25-2019, 09:26 PM	#7
BigBird05 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Cheraw Posts: 1,300	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close I can send you a picture of what will happen if you don't get that hinge to operate smoothly. I had to replace the door because the hinge area of the old door (sheet metal) broke out completly. Part of the reason he sold it I think.

10-27-2019, 05:12 PM	#8
tim_mc Registered User Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: St Peters, MO Posts: 444	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close It's also possible that the hinges are out of alignment with each other, causing the door to pinch as it's closed. __________________ 1967 C20, 350 SBC w/Comp roller cam, 700R4 w/3.42 posi, PS, 4-wheel PDB, Old Air AC & GM Tilt column.

10-27-2019, 05:24 PM	#9
truckster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,977	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close Mine was terrible - bad enough that I thought I needed to replace the hinges. Penetrating oil and patience did the trick. I soaked it and worked it slowly a few times, then soaked it and let it sit a few days. After a couple of weeks it opens like a new door. __________________ I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson

10-28-2019, 03:17 AM	#10
vics stuff Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Reno Nevada Posts: 393	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close Pull the hinges off and move them to see if they operate smoothly. As mentioned if you keep ignoring this , ultimately you will have to deal with door damage. Vic

10-28-2019, 10:05 PM	#11
landarts landarts Join Date: May 2005 Location: Star, Idaho Posts: 1,418	Re: Passenger door stiff/hard to close 2nd vote on Kroil, it has amazed me since I started using a few years go. they also sell it in 8 oz cans. Attached Images __________________ Super Cheyenne aka the "Devil Cowboy" 71 K20 Idaho Edition 69 K10 from the Field 68 Second Chance Fix and Sale 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 K2500 The "Fixrupr" build thread 72 Cheyenne 1/2 ton " FIXRUPR " - daily driver 67 C20 all original paint 71 K20 Custom 4x4 (Idaho Edition) 72 K20 GMC Super Custom 4x4 72 K20 Custom Deluxe 4x4 69 K10 Custom package 4x4 (69 K10 from the field) 72 K10 Custom 71 K10 Custom 72 K20 Custom Deluxe 4x4 72 K20 Crew Cab Project 71 GMC Jimmy CST 72 Blazer 70 Blazer

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