Anyone ever dealt with latches?

[Unofficial]

Ever since I've had my truck the doors shut really hard. You pretty much have to slam them otherwise they won't latch completely. I put speakers in my doors a couple months ago, and I think it's taking a toll on them. I have a catalog with latches in it but one is $80 and the other is $100. For a couple pieces of metal! Will the door latch fix my problem? Because I'll do it, I just don't want to buy them, put them in and have the same problem. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Blazin]

Have you adjusted your strikers in out. If you close them real easy you should hear them latch twice. If the striker is to far in the latch won't catch the second time. Also have the doors ever been opened to far, over extended the hinges or bent the door around the hinges. Over the years I have seen some real pretty cave man jobs. Some morons try to adjust doors by putting shims / washers in between the hinges and the door, this will cause the door to not latch correctly. I have also seen latches that are just plain worn out, and need to be replaced!
I would rule out all other possibility's first.

[Unofficial]

Thanks for the ideas. I'll go check now.

[HAULIN IT]

Unofficial, We're going to need you to explain a little more what it's doing. Is the door flush with the cab corner once you get it shut? The first to do is open the door, get a screwdriver or similar tool & push on the latch paw. Does is move a little & click, then move a little more & click? You should be getting two clicks. The paw should easily "open" when you push the button/pull the inside handle. The second thing to look at is if the weatherstrip is binding the door, primarily in the front edge, up & down at the hinges. Get a buddy to get inside with a dollar bill or a sheet of paper & place it between the seal & the door (wind a window down to remove the air pressure in the cab) & close the door, if it's real hard shutting you may want to hold the botton on the outside handle in, so you can push the door in steady until it's flush with the cab corner. Have the buddy try to gently pull the paper out while your holding the door in, move down a few inches & repeat, there needs to be resistance, but not "no go", work your around the door. See if there is an area that is TIGHT. Do these two things & report back. Lorne

[VileZambonie]

Also, open the door and grab it by the base and try rocking it up and down. If your hinge pin bushings are shot the door will sag making it harder to engage the striker.

[Fordeatinz71]

yep, do what Vile and Blazin said...i would bet on worn door pins myself.  your truck isn't new and these doors aren't light...although my '83 is still on it's originals and they are tight...but your truck might have more miles and more slams of the door...lol.

also, to add to what they said, lube your door latch really well...with some white lithium grease or motor oil...

[Blazin]

The shim in between the hinge, & door is the caveman fix for worn door pins from my findings. I have also seen a door that has been slamed so many times the latch is actually push toward the outside of the door. The screw holes were stretch out oval shaped.

[Unofficial]

I talked to my dad a little bit and he said it's not that bad, even though I think I'd be better off doing something. The striker is like shaven off on the top, so I greased up the latch and striker. It's better now. I'll just have to move my speakers some other time.

[Blazin]

If the sticker is getting shaved that is a good indication the pins and bushings are shot!

[HAULIN IT]

Can you explain what the speakers have to do with this? Did you put them too low/far foreward at the bottom of the door & they are hitting the weatherstrip? Was the door working correctly before the speaker install?

[Blazin]

Slamming the door is wrecking the speakers.

[Unofficial]

The speakers are just heavy, but I don't think they make much of a difference. The door wasn't any worse after I put the speakers in. I'm just concerned about how bad the condition of them will be because of how the door shuts. I'll take some pictures to show what I'm talking about better. Thanks for all the help guys. 

[Unofficial]

When shut all the way, the door is flush with the cab.


This is what happens when you don't shut it hard enough.


The speaker is no big deal. Just a little guy in the open spot below the window crank.


Here's the latch. You probably can't see a problem by looking at it I guess...


The striker, but I assure you, my door pins are strong. The door doesn't budge when I move it. The truck just rocks side to side.

[VileZambonie]

Loosen the striker so there is still some tension on it and shut the door. Press in towards the cab slightly and hold the handle button in to open it nice and slowly. Tighten the striker bolt so it doesn't move. that should get you in the ball park. From there adjust it a little this way or that way accordingly. Good luck

[Unofficial]

Wait, so loosen it, shut it, and then tighten it again?