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Adjusting doors on Chevy 1500

2.9K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  cm1964  
#1 ·
I got a 94 Z-71, and the left door likes 1/8 to 1/4 in. from closing right. There are no bolts on the hinges and I cant see anything bent, how do body shops adjust these? Bent the hinges??
That's the only way I see. If you guys could chime in on this It would be great. Thanks
Mark
 
#4 · (Edited)
They have a tool that attaches to the striker bolt in the jam. The other end latches inside the lock mechanism on the door.

With a 1/2" pry bar/ratchet you leverage the door up...basically forcefully twisting the hinges up slightly.

You can buy the too at eastwood, make your own...or if you're daring, a bottle jack with a 2x4 at the bottom of the door will work as well.

----EDIT----

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10412&itemType=PRODUCT

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=17492&itemType=PRODUCT
 
#5 ·
Before you start bending things, what happens if you drop your striker down? Will the door be too low at the B pillar? If your pins/bushings were tight and you had that condition, I look carefully at the striker adjustment or something like a loose cab mount or collision damage as the cause of your problem.

If you want to raise the back of the door you can get a length of 2 X 4. Put one end on the inside rocker and the other under the hem flange on the bottom of the door and pull up. Careful you don't bend the hem flange. Or, you can put a rubber mallet inside the door opening at the bottom hinge and shut the door on the hammer head.

Either method will probably also bring the door aft.
 
#10 ·
My 98 silverado drivers door started to sag , so i had the pins and bushings replaced.
I picked it up and it wasnt any better,turns out the 'new' guy did the work, so the shop manager comes out with this contraption and hooked into both sides of the door latch and heaved up a couple of times and lined it up perfectly!
To watch this,you would think it was not the correct way to repair this problem,my sagging door problem has not returned,its been 5 years and about 90,000miles.
 
#12 ·
My dad is retired mechanic from a Chevrolet Dealership. I used to watch him adjust doors on brand new cars with a 4x4 or hang from the side if it was too high. Thought it was funny, new $20,000 + car having the door aligned with a 2 dollar piece of lumber but that was the way it was done.