Door Problems, at wits end...

[philobeddoe]

I've had it!! What else could it be? Why do my doors not close like they did in 1977?? I just did the pins and bushings and they still seem to bounce back as the latch makes final contact with the striker. I am about to install new weather stripping. The problem has got to be in the latching mechanism or the striker. Does the striker wear down? Could it really be the latching mechanism?? If anyone knows, help! Standard 1977 Bonanza.

If I had it professionally restored as a show truck, what would they do???!!!

[400/400]

Are there plastic bushings on the strikers?

[TKCR]

Did you replace the door striker and/or adjust it? I had to replace mine when I bought my truck a few years ago. The bushing on the striker is usually missing, like mine were.

[tucsonjwt]

I would replace the striker - mine were worn flat on one side. Should be available at any auto parts store - Dorman brand, or order OEM/Delco if you can wait. Or, you could try just rotating the striker to get a better surface to contact the latch.

Did you use GM OEM pins and bushings? I found the aftermarket (Dorman) bushings were the wrong size, even though they supplied 2 different sizes.

[Chrispbrown36]

Plastic bushing on the striker itself like others have said.....put one on there and it makes all the difference in the world. Go to Autozone or where ever and buy the four pack that says its for a ford. You have to open them up just a bit but they work just fine and, for me, they were a LOT easier to get a hold of than the ones that said they were for my truck!

[philobeddoe]

No, there is no bushing on the strikers. Does that make a big difference?

[philobeddoe]

Classicparts.com has the striker and bushing all ready to go. They come together. I just found it. Like 8 or 9 bucks. I'm ordering NOW! Might even get the latches too. Thanks for your help!!!

[Chrispbrown36]

They make all the difference in the world! Trust me....my daughter no longer slams the door so hard that I cringe!

[philobeddoe]

Awesome!! I actually cant wait to change them! I'll give it the daughter test too! Thanks!

[Chrispbrown36]

You can buy them locally much cheaper. Just go to Autozone or where ever and they carry both the striker/bushing combo and the individual bushing which run about 4 bucks.

[KQQL IT]

Even a bit 1/2 nylon air line will work in a pinch

[homemade87]

Most of the time the strikes take a beating when the doors sag . The hinge pins and bushing get wore and the door will drop and the latch has to ride up on the pin to fit the latch . Thats why you see the top of the pin wore off .The latch should only contact the pin a minimal amount to aline the door to latch . Part of the latch also hits the plastic bushing in a way it will destroy it and fall out in time . Seems I was replacing mine every year .

When I decided to restore my 82 I rebuilt the hinges and fitted the doors like they should be and have not had a problem since . Replacing the pin will work for a while but it is a band aid for the real problem .

[Bigstevex4]

Door wouldn't close to save my life new striker with bush closes like new The wife very rarely rides with me. kept forgetting to fix that side, wrapped some gorilla tape around it worked perfect for a yr. now.

[dragn91]

Mine didn't close for **** till I put the1/2 inch pex on them now they work great no more slamming doors and did all 4 doors for like 4 bucks with enough left over to do like 5 more crew cabs lol I like the pex better than the new bushings because you can drop them down in the truck pillar and loose the nut. The pex you just cut a slit in and slip over put the slit toward the back works great

[TKCR]

I replaced mine about a year ago when I bought my truck. It had been restored by the previous owner, but the strikers were missing the bushings. I replaced the strikers with new ones and it did help. I also adjusted the doors which helped also. BTW, Adjusting the doors did wonders for wind noise too. But the doors still shut a bit harder than what I like.

Just wondering if there is still anything that can be done to make the doors close as easy as they did when they where built. As for the pins & bushings, I can't say for sure wether they have been replaced or not. They seem to look ok.

[Jay2Cor517]

If it's just your bushings that are bad, go to either of the big box stores, the orange or the blue and pick up a 5' stick of 1/2" pex tubing. It will be the cheapest fix you will ever perform on your truck. It runs about $1.86. Go home, measure the length of the striker where the bushing sits (1/2" to 3/4" maybe) and cut. A hacksaw or even fishing line will do the trick. Then split your new bushing the long way and wrap around striker. Place the split so it rests toward the cab/inside. I did this on both of my doors and was completely amazed. No more hard slams, doors left not closed and my kids laughing . I have never had a problem since. For 2 bucks I fixed something. I hope this helps.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_220246-61002...facetInfo=5-ft

[philobeddoe]

Door problem solved!!!! That stupid little plastic bushing was entirely the problem. The doors now close like they did in 1977!!! Amen!!

[68Timber]

I did pins and bushing on my 85 a little over a month ago and it made a huge improvement, but the doors still bounce back to half-latch about half the time. I'm going to install those bushings this weekend...

[philobeddoe]

I did pins and hinge bushings too, that helped of course. But after I put on new strikers and striker bushings...... Like 1977!!!

[Guilty-by-Design]

hell i have used electrical tape to fix this as well, wrap around the striker bolt 10 times and the door latched like new and the tape also shows wear marks so you know which way the bolt needs adjusted if you don't have access to the alignment tool.

I did end up replacing the striker bolt when the part store got some back in stock.

[philobeddoe]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

I did pins and bushing on my 85 a little over a month ago and it made a huge improvement, but the doors still bounce back to half-latch about half the time. I'm going to install those bushings this weekend...

You'll be pleasantly surprised after hou replace those bushings.
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[68Timber]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

You'll be pleasantly surprised after hou replace those bushings.
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The rain is supposed to let up late morning tomorrow - I'd planned to try rebuilding the vent windows, I'm going to add that to my list. I've read the threads about PEX and wondered but never got around to it. Thanks man.

[philobeddoe]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

The rain is supposed to let up late morning tomorrow - I'd planned to try rebuilding the vent windows, I'm going to add that to my list. I've read the threads about PEX and wondered but never got around to it. Thanks man.

Yeah, i may pick up a foot of that pex just to have. However, you can just buy the official bushings by themselves. I got mine at classicparts.com for .99 cents. I figure a dozen should last a lifetime.
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[gearheads78]

I know this is an old thread but just want to say I can't believe how good the pex worked. Installed on my crew cab this morning and I am stunned. My kids can now close the doors with ease.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by gearheads78

I know this is an old thread but just want to say I can't believe how good the pex worked. Installed on my crew cab this morning and I am stunned. My kids can now close the doors with ease.

It does, but you don't have to use PEX. They have the original style bushings in the HELP! section of the parts store. They're light grey and cheaper too.