Door Adjustment (Page 1/2)
Matthew_Fiero AUG 28, 09:01 AM
Hello,

I'm attempting to adjust my driver side door because the rear is sagging and requires me to adjust the outer door skit to it's absolute maximum height to get the molding to line up to the rear quarter panel which looks ridiculous.

Both the door skin and fender off so I have complete access to the hinges. When the door is open there is no access play when trying to move the door up and down. The hinge pins are new and the bolt holes are not elongated.

When I loosen the chassis to hinge bolts I am able to lift the door well beyond where I'd like it however When I tighten the hinge bolts back the door just proceeds to go back to it's original position. I have attempted this adjustment approximately 26 times of the past 3 days and am at a loss as to how I can align my door correctly.

I have read all about adjustment of doors and out of curiosity I took the top hinge off the chassis and noticed there is no room for adjustment. There is no slotted holes nor any way the bracket will be able to rotate.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can adjust the tilt of the door beyond loosening the chassis bolts, jacking up the rear of the door and tightening? Because this does not work.



Thank you.
Matthew

[This message has been edited by Matthew_Fiero (edited 08-28-2024).]

TheDigitalAlchemist AUG 28, 01:26 PM
Dumb question... but did the door ever line up "properly"?
Matthew_Fiero AUG 28, 02:11 PM

quote
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist:

Dumb question... but did the door ever line up "properly"?



Not since I've owned it! Good question.
Mike in Sydney AUG 28, 03:06 PM
Your hinge pins may be severely worn allowing the door to sag. Try opening the door to its fullest and lift the end of thue door. If you feel significant play or can rattle the hinge pin in its sleeve, that’s probably your problem.

You can find replacement pins and bushings annd install them. Check the archives under hinge replacement for some threads on how to do it. Alternatively, you could try shimming the lower hinge to rotate the door. Body shims can be found at most auto parts stores or body shop supply stores. Tip: Mark around the hinge mount with a scribe, marker, or pencil before you loosen it to have a reference for aligning the hinge at the proper location. This would make aligning the door simpler.

[This message has been edited by Mike in Sydney (edited 08-28-2024).]

1985 Fiero GT AUG 28, 03:57 PM

quote
Originally posted by Mike in Sydney:

Your hinge pins may be severely worn allowing the door to sag. Try opening the door to its fullest and lift the end of thue door. If you feel significant play or can rattle the hinge pin in its sleeve, that’s probably your problem.




He already said the hinge pins are new, and there is no excess play when lifting the door.
Patrick AUG 28, 04:21 PM

quote
Originally posted by Matthew_Fiero:

Both the door skin and fender off so I have complete access to the hinges.

When I loosen the chassis to hinge bolts I am able to lift the door well beyond where I'd like it however When I tighten the hinge bolts back the door just proceeds to go back to it's original position.

I have read all about adjustment of doors and out of curiosity I took the top hinge off the chassis and noticed there is no room for adjustment. There is no slotted holes nor any way the bracket will be able to rotate.



Any chance the bottom hinge has slotted holes for adjustment? With the door skin and fender off, can you maybe post some photos of what you're seeing/working with.
Matthew_Fiero AUG 28, 04:38 PM

quote
Originally posted by Mike in Sydney:

Your hinge pins may be severely worn allowing the door to sag. Try opening the door to its fullest and lift the end of thue door. If you feel significant play or can rattle the hinge pin in its sleeve, that’s probably your problem.

You can find replacement pins and bushings annd install them. Check the archives under hinge replacement for some threads on how to do it. Alternatively, you could try shimming the lower hinge to rotate the door. Body shims can be found at most auto parts stores or body shop supply stores. Tip: Mark around the hinge mount with a scribe, marker, or pencil before you loosen it to have a reference for aligning the hinge at the proper location. This would make aligning the door simpler.




Hi sorry I forgot to mention that the pins are new and there is zero play in the door when everything is tightened.
Matthew_Fiero AUG 28, 04:40 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

Any chance the bottom hinge has slotted holes for adjustment? With the door skin and fender off, can you maybe post some photos of what you're seeing/working with.



I'll go do this shortly and follow up.
Mike in Sydney AUG 28, 09:12 PM

quote
Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT:


He already said the hinge pins are new, and there is no excess play when lifting the door.



Why, yes, he did. My bad.

Sorry to mess up your day, 1985 Fiero GT, with that miss on my part.
Matthew_Fiero AUG 28, 11:57 PM
This is the bottom hinge. The bolt that comes in from the inside of the car goes through a rectangular cutout into the bracket. The other hole is tight.



I tried again this time tightening the inside bolt first.

It's so strange how there is so much play in the door when the hinges are loose and when I tighten the door in the most upward position it always goes back to its original position. I see no use in loosening the door hinges as the door appears to be oriented at the proper angle in relation to the front fender and rear quarter.

The goal is still to somehow get the door fastened in the position where when the outer door skin sits within 1/2" flush to the front end of the notchback clip. The passenger side requires ever so slight adjustment upward of the door skin to sit perfect where the driver has to be adjusted at the very extreme causing a noticeable height difference at the dew wipe.

I was not expecting this to be any more difficult than supporting the door with a jack, loosen the hinge bolts at the chassis, jack up ever so slightly and tighten the bolts. Perhaps there's something I've missed.