Door alignment

[Matthew Jeschke]

It appears my driver door to rear passenger door is misaligned / bent. The radius along the window frame starts to tuck into pillar.

Any idea on how to bend that back out?

Video of problem here:

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[Big Mama]

Did this happen on its own or something hit it? I didn’t catch your year model? Is there a corresponding gap on the bottom that sits inward along that same line? Unless it was hit adjustments to the hinges is in order but no bending

 

[drakon543]

if its just the top corner new door seals might tweek the top corner out just a little. wasn't my intention on my 2000 civic but it worked really well on that.

 

[Jeff Groves]

Not saying it happened but here is what I have seen.
Someone locks their keys in the car.
Lock Smith uses air bags to spread the top of the door to insert a probe to unlock.
That bends the door so you get wind whistle.
One way or another a 2x4 gets inserted in the door to try to bend it back.
And they go to far.

That is the front drivers door right? That is the most common one air bags are used on.
They are wedge type deals. They pry the top door frame enough to insert them.
Pump them to much and it bends the door frame.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

Did this happen on its own or something hit it? I didn’t catch your year model? Is there a corresponding gap on the bottom that sits inward along that same line? Unless it was hit adjustments to the hinges is in order but no bending

I woundered thr same. I rebuilt the hindges, but couldnt see how to adjust them. The bottom does pusj out a tad as mentioned. How do you adjust the hindges?

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[mountie]

Matthew mentioned this is a project truck..... I wonder if the new/ replaced (?) door weatherstrip is firmer than OEM?

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

Matthew mentioned this is a project truck..... I wonder if the new/ replaced (?) door weatherstrip is firmer than OEM?

I have a newer strip I snagged at salvage yard and reconditioned. I might try it but bit worried it might wreck the new strip?

Looking closer at hindges, I think they are in alignment. Just top of door is displace, bottom is just displaced by a tiny amount if any.

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[mountie]

Have a GM body guy take a look.

 

[Big Mama]

Can you use small washers or shims at the hinge bolts? What you want is for the bottom to come out toward the side of the rig not toward the back. Think of it like a teeter-totter rocking from bottom to top. The pivot point needs to be higher at the bottom.

 

[mountie]

Can you use small washers or shims at the hinge bolts? What you want is for the bottom to come out toward the side of the rig not toward the back. Think of it like a teeter-totter rocking from bottom to top. The pivot point needs to be higher at the bottom.

You could try the washer idea, but it seems to me, due to the curve of the body & curve of the door, the geometry may not work.

I'd talk to a GM body shop.

 

[Big Mama]

Agreed too. Can you add a picture of the hinges facing them?

 

[OneofFew]

9/10 the hinges need rebuilding anyway. Get you a variety of those gm hinge pins. one set with nut and one with snap ring. I forget which i liked better.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

Sorry got caught up at work. Thx for the help I am stupid I have done lots of work with local auto body shop that straightens frames etc. I should have them look at it.

Hinges were REALLY bad. I already rebuilt them now they are rock solid. I am leaning on the pillar being out of alingment (unlikely) or door is bent.

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[Big Mama]

Agreed that a bent door is unlikely unless it was pried open for some reason. If you have a local body shop that’ll tell you what’s up that’s the answer. Once you figure it out or learn how to adjust the hinges please report back

 

[Jeff Groves]

It looks to me that door was jacked by a lock smith.
If the Air wedges used to get in are pumped just a bit to high you get a bowed out top on the door.
To fix that? You roll the window down, place a 2x4 in the door near the bottom of the window, then push in.
Go to far and you see your issue.
Me? I'd place a 2x4 at the top of the door frame with the window down and push the center of the door VERY CAREFULLY to adjust.
Believe it or not? That's how it's done even at GM body shops.
Unless they con you into a new door.

It may sound scary but you would be surprised how easy it is to do this fix.

 

[mountie]

I have watched the GM body guys also do the 2x4 trick

 

[drewtx154]

Not saying it happened but here is what I have seen.
Someone locks their keys in the car.
Lock Smith uses air bags to spread the top of the door to insert a probe to unlock.
That bends the door so you get wind whistle.
One way or another a 2x4 gets inserted in the door to try to bend it back.
And they go to far.

That is the front drivers door right? That is the most common one air bags are used on.
They are wedge type deals. They pry the top door frame enough to insert them.
Pump them to much and it bends the door frame.

Bringing this post back from the dead, well really this reply.... I have terrible wind whistle and noticed the top of my driver door is out of alignment and wondered why and how to fix. After reading thought this thread just now I can probably say that the younger gentleman I bought my 02 Tahoe from at some point lost or locked his keys in the truck and someone used a air bag to wedge the door open enough and thats how it came out of alignment. Am goin to try the 2x4 truck in the morning! Great idea and thanks for passing out that info for me to eventually read!!!