The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk A Note On Latch & Striker Adjustment

On the spur of the moment yesterday, I did an insprational tweek on my driver-side door striker and really (unexpectedly) hit pay dirt!

After a half-dozen "tweeking sessions" done periodically over a few months, my passenger-side door has been closing perfectly.

But my driver-side was like 90% there ... ocassionally needing TWO slams to shut. ARGHH! It seemed that, if I lifted the door slightly while clossing it, it would shut better ... so I had been thinking that I should lower the striker.

If I got out and watched the alignment as I slowly closed the door, the latch appeared to be an eith-inch above the striker, which is where you want it. But this time, as I was getting out of the truck, I heard the latch dragging on the striker just as I was (slowly) opening the door. "Ah-haa!" I thought, "The striker is still too high!" So I decided to loosen the bolts on the striker, tap it down slightly and back, (on the top side) towards the interior, a touch.

I tightened it back up, and wow! Perfecto!

I finally have both doors closing the same!

Adjusting those strikers involves a long meditative period of time ... always feeling how your doors close ... always listening to what's happening. I installed new strikers and latches in December of 2003 ... got my passenger side right around August of 2004 and my driver side in July of 2005.

LOL! What a trip, eh?

Thanks for the inspiration..I've been tweeking mine, but sure am glad to here that it's possible to shut the doors only once..Latch/Striker meditation starts tomorrow..All new windows and stuff kinda messed up my previous adjustment..A strange trip it is..Steve

Hey, Steve

I should've added this link to my original web page on this subject -- if you haven't read it yet, check it out:
Click Here

An I thought this could only happen too me.Now Alan you made my day.But Im still tweeking the drivers door

Just a thought gentlemen...

...what is the status of your hinges? Are they worn causing the doors to sag as they open? Thats usually why the strikers need to be adjusted. You might need to replace the pins and bushings in the hinges. You can usually tell by lifting slightly on the door when it is open and checking for movement.

Bobby

That's a good point to make, Bobby.

When I first started messing with my doors my hinges were in need of repair ... missing cage-bolts are common, plus one of mine was cracked and needed a welding job.

They're all tip-top now, but after putting new latches and strikers, plus new rubber (that took 3 times to get the right rubber on -- Chevy Duty rules!), it takes some magic to adjust these to perfection. They're so basic and archaic, it just ain't as easy as it looks!

bobbyt, Where did you find the hinge pins? I've got to replace all the pins but I don't want to start until I have the pins in hand. Jim

Jim,
I've had pretty good luck finding the pins and bushings at the local parts stores. You can also find them at auto body shops and even at the dealerships. I haven't actully looked for the pins for my 66 Chevy yet but they shouldn't be too hard to find. If all else fails I'd bet that some of the restoration catalogs would have them

Bobby

I got my hinge kits at Chevy Duty... $2.49 each (you need 4). Made a huge difference in my doors closing. And it's what you ought to do first before trying to adjust anything.