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Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:16 pm

I just installed new door seals where none were previously. Seems to have realigned my doors and how well they latch. Is there a how-to for adjusting the strikers or is it trial and error...

Thanks!

Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:18 am

Never seen a how-to for door alignment but maybe this will help.

First look at your door gap (hinge to hinge area) and see if this is even. Many times the hinges are bent from people hanging on doors. If this gap is thin at bottom and wide near top then this is probably the case. Also look now at whats called the belt line (body seam just above door handle) and with door off latch (not fully closed) see how close your dooor lines up with this belt line. If door is below the body lines then you are back at hinges again that need a little adjustment.
There is no easy way to loosen a few bolts to adjust this. Mainly the door pillars got bent so now you need to bend it back. To do that open door slightly enough so you can get your foot on rocker and body weight on rocker area. Use a 2x4 and put under the door (main body of door not seal area) about half way down door. With a floor jack, jack up to the wood and take a little weight off the car with door slightly open as mentioned. Watch your forward door gap and jack up on door now a little more putting body weight on rocker till hinge moves. This takes several tries and each time pulling wood/jack out and closing door to see if gap changes and belt line is even. Once you have this gap set its on to next part.
With door closed now (fully closed) look at the body skins and see if the door now needs adjusted at hinges in or out - top or bottom to align the flats of the door skin up with body skin. Also take notice of top of door near rear and how it aligns up with B-pillar area. If door is out farther at top of door then rest of B-pillar then of course the hinges need adjusted in or out a little. Once this final hinge adjustment is done and door gaps look good forward and rear of door. And panel alignment looks good. Now you can adjust the latch if need be.
Carefully watch as you slowly close door at the latch on door side as it goes into the matching striker plate. Determine now if latch is coming in too low and actually lifting door as you close it which also can be noticed by watching the belt line again. Maybe door is being pulled down and pulling the door belt line down from matching car. Either way this would be your indicator.
In final closing of door (door completely closed and latched) look at back of door skin and see if it lines up with rear body skin. Is it out or in farther which then shows you move latch inward or outward.
This is a trial and error process and takes many tries and adjustments to get a good alignment where door closes easily.

HOpe that helps!