Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
repair of sliding door track
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Alan Brase
Samba Member


Joined: March 28, 2004
Posts: 4532
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Alan Brase is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:07 am    Post subject: repair of sliding door track Reply with quote

Has anyone done a satisfactory repair of the sliding door track? Is there any source for the parts? I don't really want to put the whole factory part in, just the rusty track and outer rocker. The rocker part from Bus Depot didn't fit at all!
Al
_________________
Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
goffoz
Samba Member


Joined: May 09, 2007
Posts: 1486

goffoz is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi AL
Which track?...I assume the lower one, right
Do you have bad rust, holes?...or is it just pitted?
On my 2wd the door was loud and growlie, so I wire brushed and sanded the heck out of it....the applied a good coat or 2 of marine grade epoxy
I was so impressed with how quiet the slider was after that, that I decided to go further...I stripped down the lower roller and lubed and polished it ..then just as an experiment I put down a strip of 2" wide 6mill HDPE tape(the type used for wrapping connections in underground pipe joint.
Man that door is so quiet and smooth now...it still amazes me Shocked
ps:the tape has held up for 2months now, and looks unworn
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Alan Brase
Samba Member


Joined: March 28, 2004
Posts: 4532
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Alan Brase is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The metal is completely rusted/ worn thru in places. I need to make a patch and fasten it in somehow, then put on a new outer rocker. I was hoping someone made a repair part. GERSON??
time to start with T3 parts?
Al
_________________
Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
82WestyMan
Samba Member


Joined: December 28, 2006
Posts: 1098
Location: Western OR
82WestyMan is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

goffoz wrote:
... On my 2wd the door was loud and growlie, so I wire brushed and sanded the heck out of it....the applied a good coat or 2 of marine grade epoxy... stripped down the lower roller and lubed and polished it ... put down a strip of 2" wide 6mill HDPE tape... that door is so quiet and smooth now...it still amazes me :shock:
ps:the tape has held up for 2months now, and looks unworn


I'd don't mean to hijack this thread but I know I'm not the only one in the forum with an embarrassing loud sliding door... I hate having to open and close it late nights in a campground.

I think your above repair would make a great thread (perhaps a sticky???), complete with pictures, of the complete process.

... sounds like I have a new item for my "Westy To-Do" list
_________________
"The floggings will continue until morale improves"
"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell" - Harry S. Truman
82 Westfalia - w/ a Raby 'Camper Special' engine
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
goffoz
Samba Member


Joined: May 09, 2007
Posts: 1486

goffoz is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

69doublecab wrote:
The metal is completely rusted/ worn thru in places. I need to make a patch and fasten it in somehow, then put on a new outer rocker. I was hoping someone made a repair part. GERSON??
time to start with T3 parts?
Al

Pick and pull and a battery operated sawsall....or maybe someone nearby has a parts van you can attack , and have it welded in?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
kamzcab86
Samba Moderator


Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7893
Location: Arizona
kamzcab86 is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

82WestyMan wrote:

I'd don't mean to hijack this thread but I know I'm not the only one in the forum with an embarrassing loud sliding door... I hate having to open and close it late nights in a campground.

I think your above repair would make a great thread (perhaps a sticky???), complete with pictures, of the complete process.

... sounds like I have a new item for my "Westy To-Do" list


It's on my lengthy to-do list, for sure. This thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=381226 doesn't have photos, but it does have a decent description and the OP used UHMW tape (same basic stuff??).
_________________
~Kamz Anxious
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
Blue Vanagon 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
carterzest
Samba Member


Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3842
Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
carterzest is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bought passenger and drivers entire rockers for $200/side, cut out for me by a local shop. Lots of junkyards would do the same thing, just show them what you want. Last post of this thread
I will have some more pics in the coming days. Slider track is marginally bad, but, I did not want to do the other repairs without also repairing the slider track. It is/was extremely crusty and sure to be an issue in the near future.
_________________
Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.