Door striker adjustment question

[69chargerrt]

Hi!

A question on adjusting the door striker - when I close the passenger door, the door feels like it's catching on the striker as it's closing.   That is, rather than the door's lever engaging the striker,  it sounds and feels like it's hitting the striker head-on.       Because of this, whenever you push the door shut using normal force,  it bangs into the striker and doesn't completely latch the door shut.    At this point, if I were to just push the door shut by hand, the door will close completely.

I've just installed new 'used' weatherstripping so I don't know if that might make a difference or not.   Otherwise the door has never been removed from the body, nor to my knowlege adjusted before.    The door also lines up pretty good with the rest of the contours of the body so it doesn't look like it's out of alignment, but something is interfering with the door when I close it.     I've looked thru the manual but it doesn't give me a clue as to what could be causing this - it only suggests what to do if the door is visually misaligned.

Has anyone had this problem before, and how did you handle it?    Oh, and this is on a '69 Charger.

Thanks!
David

[UFO]

The body line adjustment is done at the hinges.
The latch can be adjusted at the pillar(large phillips head screws).

[69chargerrt]

The body line adjustment is done at the hinges.
The latch can be adjusted at the pillar(large phillips head screws).

Ah, ok- so I just adjust the latch itself then.   I'm guessing that 'tipping' the pillar latch down slightly at the outside edge should do it?

[69chargerrt]

Quick question - on the Phillips screws for the striker plate- what size screwdriver will I need?   None of the ones I have are big enough, so I'll have to run out and get one for this (preferably a Phillips rachet socket as I have a feeling I'm gonna need the torque) and I'd like to make sure on the size as I'd rather not strip these screws out....

[y3chargerrt]

 It's a #3 phillips. My Craftsman is stamped P3 on the handle.

[lilwendal]

It sound like the door striker is being used to force the door into a position that the body lines align.  Not good.
Heres my way... Take the striker off the B pillar alll together.
Next make sure your door hinges are good with minimal play. If worn all the local parts stores carry a hinge bushing rebuild kit. Or..Disassemble the hinge and weld up the hole then reem.
Once you have the hinge nice and tight adjust the door at the hinges till your body lines are dead on.
Then reinstall your striker to where it does not effect the doors height up or down. The door striker should engage the latch smoothly with nothing more than a click of the catch.
Its a beautiful thing when you get them adjusted right.
Nothing worse then having to slam the door with that terrible metal impact noise each time.
It  is a trial and error method on the striker and you will have to keep making small adjustments till you get there.

[AutoRust]

I would look real closely at the hinges before you adjust the striker. Not very often they move, unless the hinge is/was bad, then the latch hits it, and then all the horrors begin. Its not unusual on a B-body, thats a big heavy door.

[69chargerrt]

Thanks for the replies, guys!    I did manage to find a screwdriver and readjusted the striker plate.   lilwendal you're right- it's a beautiful thing when it's realigned- it closes just fine now     But as you all suggest, I'll inspect the hinges as I suspect that they might have some wear on them, thus causing this problem in the first place.     

[69chargerrt]

Well I checked the hinges by lifting on the back end of the door.   I do feel a slight movement, so I assume I shouldn't be feeling any sort of movement at all?

As far as rebushing the hinges,  does someone know of a good rebuild kit?    I'm assuming that I'll have to remove the hinges and have a machine shop do the actual work, correct?

[mysil bergsprekken]

"I assume I shouldn't be feeling any sort of movement at all?"
I'm not sure about this, there ought to be some movement, but not severe I guess. Are they even possible to refurbish if they are worn out?

This overall issue seems to be the same problem that I am having. After reading this I will try to see if the striker is aligned with the door. And then move the striker.
But it kind of looks like my door is sagging a bit (not quite aligned).
Any idea how to lift the door in the rear end. Because it is perfectly aligned in the front end. ??
Thanks