DO you have to SLAM the doors on your wagon to close them? This may help! Door Striker Bushings

Actually SOME of the 71's had these with metal not plastic. never wore out. I had a set on probably 6 or more cars. Just kept switching them out as I got a new ride

And I must say my cars never had to have the doors slammed. always in adjustment. But people who rode in them always THOUGHT they needed to slam them for some reason.

 

I notice most newer car doors almost close themselves. Most people slam the doors on my Impala when all it takes is mostly to get the door stop out of the indent.
I've also noted that even when I close them myself gently they sound like they were slammed.

From past experience too many people feel they must lean "lay" on car doors after opening them to just have something to hang on while talking or crawling out.
This eventually causes more sag, especially on those older wider 2-door car doors. Of course any door hinge and pin will wear over time. At least the Duke boys knew a way to save the door pins. Not so much the suspension, but the doors lasted much longer.

Thanks again Mike for all of your tips.

 

They simply aren't used to maintained vehicles, methinks.

 

Just to jump in, my hinges are not really worn and have no play at all in them. The issue, at least on the 77-90 GM B-body cars, is the plastic bushings dry out and crack with age, and fall off. Had a friend with a 36K mile 78 Impala that was missing two plastic bushings and had cracks in the others after decades in the Texas heat. No matter if you do the entire striker replacement or the quick fix I did above, this will solve your hard-closing issues 99% of the time. Take Care All! -Mike

 

^^^kinda gave you a hard time didn't they mike?! I found it creative and informative! Thank you!!

 

Yes, Mike, you addressed a car issue that most people never bother to address. Appreciate it, thank you!

 

Common, people. It's only a car issue. Not like we're discussing Post-Menstrual Syndrome or something.

 

Just trying to share tips and tricks. Take it as you will!

 

Then why do I feel so bloated?!

 

Dr Mike will see you in his office shortly. Never mind that it looks like an attached garage and he works with used Vicegrips and an old battery checker syringe. Just bend over and keep smiling.

 

It's the little things that help and the experience of others not afraid to experiment.

 

Mike my hinges are perfect too. Bushings on the strikers broke off from age. Damb noisy having that door latch rattling on that bare pin. I bought the whole cabuttle on rock auto $10 Canadian each.

 

Thanks for the tip Mike. The doors close like butter now. I figured there was an issue but after checking all doors(missing on all 4), it was difficult to understand what the issue was. If I had one intact on one door, it would have been a big clue. My striker bolts themselves are not worn and no play in the hinges. Looks like Ford pickup tailgates have the same type of plastic bushings that disappear.

I cut the remaining 4'10" of PEX into more bushings and threw them in the glovebox. Maybe I can help out another guy at a show if I hear him slam his door 2 or 3 times.

 

If you stuff that glovebox full of them, you could earn the equivalent of a week's wage in one night, by just visiting drive-thru restaurants, drive-in movie theaters and drive-thru churches. Then, peddle your bushings onto noisy door slammers, as if they were joints at Cosino Park in Warren, Michigan some 40 years ago.