Aligning doors

[69bronzeT5]

How do you align doors? I'm trying to align the doors on my Charger

[Back N Black]

Back from the body shop already!   Which part are you trying to align the hinges itself or the adjustment at the striker?

[69bronzeT5]

  Nope. Something came up so I gotta throw it back together for now. The hinges I assume, the door is sitting too low and when I go to close it, it rubs up against the cowl.

[69bronzeT5]

Anything?? I kinda wanna do this tonight

[Charger-Bodie]

This is not something that can be easily explained in text......tou need to adjust them until the door fits in the opening with a uniform gap.

[69bronzeT5]

Do I need to loose the bolts and then raise the door up by hand and then tighten the bolts or something like that?

[terrible one]

First you should address the real issue. . . worn out hinges making your doors sag. Rebuild the hinges or buy new ones, THEN align them.

[69bronzeT5]

The doors sat fine a few months ago. The doors just need to be adjusted. Its mainly getting it to line up with the cowl.

[evil1]

First you should address the real issue. . . worn out hinges making your doors sag. Rebuild the hinges or buy new ones, THEN align them.

Ive used a bumper jack to help hold the door in place to adjust it. just watch your toes

[john108]

Please excuse my jumping in here:
My drivers door fits fine but I would like to slide it back about 1/16 inch.  I would like a little more clearance from the fender.
What bolts do you loosen and in what order?
I would like NOT to mess up the entire alignment.
John

[69bronzeT5]

No probs John. I'd like to know the answer too. 

[bill440rt]

Please excuse my jumping in here:
My drivers door fits fine but I would like to slide it back about 1/16 inch.  I would like a little more clearance from the fender.
What bolts do you loosen and in what order?
I would like NOT to mess up the entire alignment.
John

This is a fairly simple procedure. A FSM explains this more in depth, but it's all nuts & bolts really.

It's easiest to have a helper with you, trust me. There are 2 sets of bolts holding a door on, the ones holding the hinges to the pillar & then the ones holding the hinges to the door. Cover all edges & corners with masking tape to prevent damage. I like to use either pieces of cardboard or rubber squeegees as my "gap spacers" to check the gaps before I final tighten the bolts. They can also be used (along with a helper), to hold your gap as you tighten.
The hinge-to-pillar bolts allow the door to be moved straight up & down, and forward & back. You can also achieve the correct angle of the door by loosening these bolts (door to rocker gap).
The hinge-to-door bolts allow the door to be adjusted in & out at the cowl & fender gap. They adjust the door's front edge vertical plane. You'll need to remove the inner fender splash shield to access all these bolts to properly adjust it on the car, with the door closed. I find that easiest. There are two bolts holding each hinge to the pillar from the inside of the car as well.

John, if you want to slide that door back 1/16", first remove the fender splash shield. There are 3 bolts on each hinge holding it to the pillar, one from the outside & two from the inside. Keep the door closed. Loosen 2 bolts each hinge completely, leaving one bolt each tight. Have a helper handy, & protect the edges. Keep squeegees/cardboard on the bottom taped to the rocker jamb to keep the bottom gap straight. Loosen the remaining bolts slightly just to allow the door to slide back. Use a squeegee at the rear door-1/4 gap until you're satisfied, then tighten the 2 bolts. Check everything to make sure you're happy, then tighten the remaining bolts. Reassemble the fender splash shields.

Good Luck! 

[hemi-hampton]

I like to use a Paint Stick to even up my gaps. All this is much easier done with the fenders off. LEON.

[hemi-hampton]

Here's some pics. LEON.

[69bronzeT5]

Yea, I'd like my door to line up with the cowl but its sitting too low. It was fine a few months ago when I took the doors off but now the doors are back on and its sitting too low and I dont know how to adjust it

[chgr500]

Yea, I'd like my door to line up with the cowl but its sitting too low. It was fine a few months ago when I took the doors off but now the doors are back on and its sitting too low and I dont know how to adjust it

loosen the door hinges at the door and lift the front of the door higher or loosen the bolts on the A pillar and lift the door higher...not brain surgery...you're going to have worn hinges for sure if they are stock....grab the back of the door when open and lift the door up and down...see all that movement...worn hinges...hardest part depending on how worn they are is adjustment at the latch....doors will sag to this area....do you have a body manual ...good luck

[69bronzeT5]

Thanks man! I will end up getting the hinges redone or buying new hinges but I have to throw the car togther for now so the hinges will have to do.

[john108]

Thank you for thr explination.  Sounds Easy, But
When I get to that side of the car, I will give it a try.
John