Adjusting Door Latches

[tumblindice]

Both doors on my '30 coupe are aligned well, and open and shut easily and with a light touch.


However, when they're closed, both doors will "sag" open a good bit, while still remaining securely latched. I've adjusted the latch plate thing on the body of the car out and in, but it appears to have no effect and I'm unsure where to make next adjustments to bring the doors in and keep them flush to the body when closed.


What's the best way to correct this cosmetic issue?

 

[Marshall V. Daut]

Photos, please? Some body shimming or bending hinges may be in order.
M.

 

[jb-ob]

Tum, Have you installed the door bumpers ?

With much respect to Marshal, bending hinges is the absolute last thing in your bag of tricks to align doors. 'Easy' to bend, not so to 'unbend'.

jb

 

[tumblindice]

Well, I hate to say it, but "door bumpers" are something I hadn't heard of until this thread. I don't have the top or bottom ones on currently, but it does look like there are old ones in the jamb... not sure how much they are doing.


Pictures of that, as well as how the doors sit are below (the car is a little rough, but I daily drive it when it's not 110 here...). I'm wondering now if this is a simple case of refreshing the door bumpers and replacing the missing ones.

 

[Tinbasher]

I would start with the top and bottom rubber bumpers and then see where it's latching. From the picture it looks like it's only latching on the first step of the striker plate. If so, try moving the striker out. so the latch goes to the next step. if that doesn't work but your getting close then I've taken the striker out and ground down the back edge about 1/16" and then tried it again. A bit of going back and forth but you'll get it. JP

 

[stevemclark]

Those doors don't look closed all the way,try a harder shutting,don't slam them.Door bumpers are here,check to see if you need clips. https://www.mikes-afordable.com/product/A702610BS.html. .clips .https://www.mikes-afordable.com/product/A46457.html

 

[Big hammer]

If the doors close and latch completely and then open by themselves, maybe it’s time to remove the latches and replace the springs ! Last year my passenger side door latch began to open on its own and I removed the latch and replaced the springs, this year the drivers door opened on it’s own and replaced the springs in it !