Door Alignment
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 39
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From: International
Door Alignment
The gap between the drivers door edge and the rear panel is greater than the one on the passenger side.
The difference came after changing the door hinge on the drivers side.
Does somebody knows how the pins on the body side can be removed in order to move the hinge back and forth?
I guess I can use some washers as spacers on the door side of the hinge but the passenger side does not have any shims.
I will appreciate any help on this matter.
The difference came after changing the door hinge on the drivers side.
Does somebody knows how the pins on the body side can be removed in order to move the hinge back and forth?
I guess I can use some washers as spacers on the door side of the hinge but the passenger side does not have any shims.
I will appreciate any help on this matter.
You can try these steps from the manual:
FRONT DOOR ADJUSTMENT
1. ADJUST DOOR IN FORWARD/REARWARD AND VERTICAL DIRECTIONS Loosen the body side hinge bolts to adjust the door panel. HINT: Remove the pin on the body side before performing adjustment and reinstall it when finished.
2. ADJUST DOOR IN LEFT/RIGHT AND VERTICAL DIRECTIONS Loosen the door side hinge bolts to adjust.
3. ADJUST DOOR LOCK STRIKER
(a) Check that the door fit and door lock linkages are adjusted correctly.
(b) Using a screwdriver, remove the striker cover.
HINT: Tape the screwdriver tip before use.
(c) Adjust the striker position by slightly loosening the striker mounting screws, and hitting the striker with a hammer. Tighten the striker mounting screws again.
(d) Install the striker cover.
FRONT DOOR ADJUSTMENT
1. ADJUST DOOR IN FORWARD/REARWARD AND VERTICAL DIRECTIONS Loosen the body side hinge bolts to adjust the door panel. HINT: Remove the pin on the body side before performing adjustment and reinstall it when finished.
2. ADJUST DOOR IN LEFT/RIGHT AND VERTICAL DIRECTIONS Loosen the door side hinge bolts to adjust.
3. ADJUST DOOR LOCK STRIKER
(a) Check that the door fit and door lock linkages are adjusted correctly.
(b) Using a screwdriver, remove the striker cover.
HINT: Tape the screwdriver tip before use.
(c) Adjust the striker position by slightly loosening the striker mounting screws, and hitting the striker with a hammer. Tighten the striker mounting screws again.
(d) Install the striker cover.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Alberta
Having these same problems. Took my SC3 to my mechanic a few months ago and he ended up somehow aleviating the problem. Said he tweaked the door slightly with some brute force and this stopped that sickening "CRACK!" that happens when the door catches the fender panel and pops suddenly.
It started happening again a week or so ago (might be the cold spell we just had??) and I'm in the mood for fixing it myself.
From what I can see, it's completely an alignment issue. I know that the intent behind the 4-link hinge assy. is to not only swing the door out, but away from the driver upon exiting the vehicle. On my car, what I see is that the door doesn't swing away as much as it needs to be able to clear the fender panel. Thanks to sc300max for the diagrams. I just printed them and am going to tinker in the garage for a while.
Also, for anyone else reading, these helped me understand some root causes of them problem (save you the searching):
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...door+alignment
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...door+alignment
It started happening again a week or so ago (might be the cold spell we just had??) and I'm in the mood for fixing it myself.
From what I can see, it's completely an alignment issue. I know that the intent behind the 4-link hinge assy. is to not only swing the door out, but away from the driver upon exiting the vehicle. On my car, what I see is that the door doesn't swing away as much as it needs to be able to clear the fender panel. Thanks to sc300max for the diagrams. I just printed them and am going to tinker in the garage for a while.
Also, for anyone else reading, these helped me understand some root causes of them problem (save you the searching):
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...door+alignment
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...door+alignment
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Alberta
sagging hinge solution
n00b here - Pardon the skepticism but will replacing/fixing the sag really aleviate the issue with the door jutting up against the fender panel?
My goodness I want this problem fixed. Every time I hear that crack sound I want to snap it's so bad. It's to the point where the fender panel actually flexes until the door lets it loose and pops out....
My goodness I want this problem fixed. Every time I hear that crack sound I want to snap it's so bad. It's to the point where the fender panel actually flexes until the door lets it loose and pops out....
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Alberta
Mechanic took a look at it and you're right - it's the hinge. Had bad lighting when I took a look at it. In broad daylight it's glaringly obvious. He had his "parts hookup" guy try to find a replacement ($350 CDN!!) Haha, time to call Ali...
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Good to hear you found the problem. The good thing about getting a new hinge is that they are revised to handle the weight of the door and should prevent sagging in the future. I believe the newer SCs (98-00?) have the revised hinges already installed. Although, getting a used one in good condition should last you for a while and will probably be cheaper. Its just alot of work to install that hinge so I would rather put a new one in so I do not have to worry about it for a long time. You can also rebuild the hinge as shown on here: http://www.planetsoarer.com/hinges/index.htm
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