Doors: Adjustments

DOOR LOCK STRIKER ADJUSTMENT

The door lock striker consists of a striker with two screws that are threaded into a tapped, floating cage plate located in the appropriate body pillar. This floating cage plate allows the striker to be easily adjusted in or out and up or down. The door is secured in the closed position when the door lock fork snaps over and engages the striker.

NOTE: The door lock striker is an important attaching part that can affect the performance of vital components and systems and can cause major repair expenses. If replacement becomes necessary, the door lock striker must be replaced by one with the same part number or with an equivalent. Do not use a replacement part of lesser quality or of a substitute design. The specified torque values must be used during reassembly in order to ensure the proper retention of the part.




Up/Down or In/Out Adjustment
An adjustment of the striker in the up and down or in and cut directions may be necessary for a number of reasons: Vehicle frame damage as the result of a collision, installation of new door weather-stripping, customer complaints of excessive Wind noise, or difficulty in opening or closing the door. In order to adjust the door striker in an up and down or in and out direction perform the following procedure:

1. The door must be properly aligned.
2. Loosen the striker screws.
3. The floating cage plate can be moved slightly using the ends of the striker screws. Move the floating cage plate to the desired position.

NOTE: It is important to use a flat-end rotary file in order not to damage the tapped floating cage plate. The striker screws and the tapped floating cage plate are important attaching parts that could affect the performance of vital components and systems.

4. If proper adjustment requires that the floating cage plate be moved more than is possible, use an electric hand drill and a 3/8-inch rotary file with a flat head in order to enlarge the body opening in the direction required.
5. Tighten the striker screws to the correct position.

Tighten
Tighten the door lock striker screws to 10 N.m (89 lb-in).