86, Doors are hard to close !

[RShaips]

I have a 86 K10 that is in great original shape. The doors fit great but they are hard to close, I have to slam them ! I know that this is not unusual but it drives me crazy, anything that I can do to make them shut easier ? Thanks

[Dirty Dan]

I have to slam mine also. I'm pretty sure my doors are from a different year than my truck.

[C-10volvo]

you could try to adjust your striker bolt.

[N2TRUX]

It's time for pins and bushings. The reason they aren't closing well is because they are sagging, and not aligning with the strike post when you close it. Try lifting straight up on the door handle and see how much slack you have, or if the door will close easy. If you have slack, the hinge pins and bushings are worn out and need replaced....

[Low87]

N2, mine on the 77 have to be slammed or the door opens back up a bit. There is no slack on the door. Does that mean the latch is shot? The striker bolt isn't loose either.

[Grim Reaper]

The striker has a plastic collar to keep it from rattling. If it is gone (and they often are) the doors will be hard to close. $5 at Autozone help section for a set of collarts that are listed for a ford. You have to tap them on but they will work.

Fair warning...older trucks like my 75 Jimmy the nut was captive and could not fall out. I just replaced one of these on my 88 Burb driver door and the stupid thing is no captive and I had to fish it out of the rocker.

[RShaips]

my doors are tight , they do not sag, I will try the collars, you are talking about sliding them onto the part that the striker clamps over I assume ?

[Grim Reaper]

Originally Posted by RShaips

my doors are tight , they do not sag, I will try the collars, you are talking about sliding them onto the part that the striker clamps over I assume ?

Yep. The help section sell it as an assembly for GM but if you buy the Ford version that is just the gray plastic part. You can drive them on the striker with a socket or on the bench vise. it looks one pice but the part afanst the door fram is a big flat washer. If the nut is captive it's a 5 minute repair. If you have to chase the nut it's a 1.5 hour repair on a Suburban LOL.

With that collar missing it makes the diameter of the stiker smaller and it doesn't trip the latch the second clip. My doors are tight and no sag and I was having to slam to get them to close. No problem now. Still need to do this to one of the rear doors.. Same problem. Plastic peice got hard with age and came apart.

[arveetek]

Grim is right, the plastic piece that goes over the striker bolt is very important. While the sagging pins and bushings in the door hinges can add to the problem, the plastic door striker bushing is what causes most door problems. I actually fixed mine by slipping a slit piece of gray poly tubing (the kind used for water lines in RV's) over the still-installed door striker bolt. My doors shut with just the slightest bit of pressure.

[RShaips]

Thanks for the tip. My doors shut so much better it is amazing ! What a difference. Thanks again