Front door check rod sounds like a gun shot?

[skills@eurocarsplus]

well, if your door check sounds like a gun shot, have i got a deal for you

so, i decided while the bus is apart to go ahead and rebuild my door checks.

if your door goes POP POP when you open and close it, the bushing is shot, but if your bus had been really neglected, the mount on the A pillar could be hogged out too. in which case, you will need to find a oversized pin. most hardware stores have them in stock. thankfully, my mounts were fine


here we go:

take out said nappy ass door check

the overspray was from the original respray, so i was going to clean them up anyway

you can kind of see in this picture the bushing is worn out

i went and machined a new pair of bushings

i took mine down to nothing to clean and grease them. i'm silly like that what you need to do is slike the rollers to the top of the door check

now, carefully, get all up in there with a screw driver and release the spring wire. it is under a bit of tension, but not too bad. be careful

now you will have this

clean everything you can. lube it up with whatever you want. i like wurth HHS2000, but anything you have will probably be fine as long as it is a thin enough grease

now, it basically goes back on the way it came off. be careful hooking the spring wire. keep your fingers out of any pinch zones. i think its a good way to get a hand full of blood blisters

now it should look like this

the bushing presses out pretty easy. just find a correct size step punch or a old screw. it comes out easire than you think. no need to go all sledge hammer on it

now tap the new bushing in

install and enjoy that new bus feel
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[Klaussinator]

Nice write-up on something I've been wondering about since I got my bus. Still haven't messed with it - guess it wasn't on the priority list - but now I will. Thanks!

BTW, the pics are awesome - don't ever assume I know how to read

-Klauss
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the Klaussinator - `73 hardtop Bay custom-built camper

[vdubluvah]

Awesome! Thanks.

[Stuartzickefoose]

on my to do list
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

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[Wasted youth]

I didn't even realize this was an issue...or that it could be resolved. I keep learning something every time I visit this place! Thanks for posting this.

[Keith]

Thanks for the write up. This is on my list as well. Do you have any specs from when you made the new bushings?
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Formerly known in the forums as "OVALTEEN"

"I firmly believe that some villagers from Botswana could probably build a better road than PennDot."- Splitty

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[aeromech]

Thems some real mechanic fingers there boy
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[Wasted youth]

[airschooled]

[imtb]

Anyone have the specs on the bushings? My doors need some as well.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[RalphWiggam]

I just thought it was because my bus spent its first 2 years in Oakland.

[Abscate]

Now I just have to train my drop and roll for cover reflex out…,
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.ssS!

[imtb]

Here is some spec. for reference. I was lazy and don't like taking off door panels so, I was able get get old ones out using harbor freight punch set. Then I used large channel locks to press in new one. You can see how distorted the old is.

Passenger side turned out perfect. No more pop, pop.
Driver side still some issues. My first bushing really didn't press in more pushed in and still popping. I have another bushing a little bigger on OD, that might fit tighter and need to be pressed in. Well see. I might also order oversize pin from Wolfs West.
Here is driver side pic.

[RalphWiggam]

Fixed my drivers door this weekend with a slightly different method. Took the check pin out and measured it. I think it was 5.91mm. Found a stainless rod I had laying around that measured 6.15mm and almost fit in the hole.

Used my redneck lathe (a drill and a file) to turn it down to 6.03mm (custom fit for the door). Put a groove in the top for a c-clip, lubed it up with Mobil 1 synthetic grease and installed.

Now there is zero popping when opening and closing. Took about 15min. Thanks for the idea.