How to line up doors - please help!

[Paul1990SHO]

Thanks for any help.

I replaced (tried to) a front door. I cannot seem to get it lined up again properly. I have tried pushing, pulling, lifting. I have had to tightern and loosen the 4 bolts maybe 10 times so far and not having any luck

Is there a good method/guide for doing this? I will also be removing the other 3 doors to work on.

 

[awb85]

they make door removal stands, I think it would make your job easier, especially if you're gonna be doing 3 more.

If you can't rent one, might be able to buy one for under $100 I think.

 

[Paul1990SHO]

Thanks. I tried several google searches for such a beast, no luck!

Anyhow with 2 people and some improvising I'm sure we can lift/push/pull into the right position, but the problem is finding just what that is!

Is there any other way besides just guessing, tighthening, loosening and trying all over until it lines up?

 

[rangerj]

Paul,

When you removed the door did you remove the hinges from the body, or the door from the hinges. As long as the original hinges from your car are in working order they should be mounted to the body where they were for your original door. Look at the marks on the hinges from the bolts for the location of the hinge.

Now, mount the door to the hinges. Look for the marks, or lack of paint, or some other indication of where the door hinges were originally on your new door. This is a good place to start.

Now, see if the door will close without binding or hitting something it shouln't.

Adjust the door, up, down, in, out, front, back, etc, until it will close and the "gap' around the door is the same amount, and the "lines" of the body line up.

This process is trial and error and takes experience to get it right in a few tries. Do not try to adjust the door using the latch striker, but rather get the door lined up first and then adjust the striker if necessary.

There have been times I have spent several days trying to get a door lined up. As you get closer, you make smaller and smaller adjustments.

There is no magical tool or method to "hanging a door". All the door rack does for you is hold the door for the attachment to the hinges. YOU still have to line it up. You can mount a door by balancing the door on a floor jack, with the help of an assistant. rangerj

 

[SLOSHO89]

The way that I do it, is to leave the hinges stuck to the door. Then set the door up against the car and latch it into place (like when it is closed). Then go through and tighten the bolts. This will get you very close to where you want them to be. I have done this on the rear doors and also on the fronts, but I had the front fenders off at the time.

Hope that helps.
Efren

 

[rangerj]

SLOSHO,

Anybody can hang a front door with the fenders off! rangerj