Is there a recommended procedure to correctly refit a door catch.


I have removed mine in order to respray the door jamb, however it has a lot of free movement before it is tightened up. Once resprayed all the tell tale signs will be gone


This is the item I mean.

 

I just put mine on as low as it would go. You will be able to feel if its right when you close the door. There is not much play in it.

 

Have you seen this video?

 

Hi RD, I am not the only one that moves about.

Having read your postings I thought Id have a go at adjusting my drivers door. Never been 100% happy with its closure.

Looked at the door hinge bolts. How does anyone get any sort of tool in there?

I tried adjusting the bar on the body work, the bit that the door latch grabs onto? First off I simply took it as low as it would go. hmmm ok but not right. Then I tried adjusting it a couple of more times each time trying not to get too far from the original settings. You could tell where it originally sat by the 'tide' mark around it. Made it worse.

So then I completely ignored the tide mark and looked at the, closed, door itself. My thoughts at the time.......... hmm it could do with coming up a fraction and the top end out a bit and the bottom end in. So I moved the door catch with the measurements in mind above. Moved the top out slightly, moved the bottom in slightly. Moved the entire catch out a smidgen. Tightened up the torx screws. Closed the door. Perfect! It really was as simple as that. It lines up and closes probably better than its ever done for years. The difference is quite noticeable.

Give it a go!

If I had the car here id photo the before and after tide marks for you, but the cars at the garage.

Oh almost forgot. I also tried the grab the outside bottom corner and lift the door back into position move but that did not work.

 

Thanks Frank, I'll be putting everything back in/on the car over the next few days and will try that.