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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

How do your guys' doors open?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mob
  • Start date Start date Jan 22, 2013

mob

the guy who hits on his mom
20+ Year Stangneter
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#1
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #1
Hey guys, whenever someone goes to open my door they think its locked. It pretty much takes hulk to open them, and when they do open it feel like its gonna break. Reminds me of my dads 67' mustangs that just pop when you open them. Is this how these cars are or was there ever a time you could gently lift the handle and it would just gently open for you. Obviously my actuators dont work either, and there are broken parts like when I lock the driver side door it kno longer will unlock without removing the door panel and popping it with a screw driver. I am wondering if it is worth it to tear apart the inside of the door and just replace all the door latch parts, actuator, etc. maybe making it feel like a new car again? Does anyone sell these parts?
 

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end
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#2
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #2
mine open fine... the doors lean a little once they are open so i guess i need to replace the bushings
 

RacEoHolic330

I like to dress like a pretty girl
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#3
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #3
LRS sells complete kits to replace the door parts.

If your door is hard to open, it may just be your hinge pins that need replacement. If they are worn, the door will sag and put added pressure on the lock bushing making it difficult to lift the handle. When the door is open, does it lift at all if you pull up on the bottom edge? If so, you need new hinge pins.
 

mob

the guy who hits on his mom
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#4
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #4
Yes, the doors do need alignement, are you talking about the striker bolts? The part that bothers me is the actual handle is so hard. I want it to open like a brand new car. The passenger door is real bad, I actually have to lift it from the inside to pop the latch, and yes I can lift it up and down when its open. It also pops when it closes.
 

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end
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#5
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #5
mines the hinge bushings...

im pretty sure CJ's and late model both sell all the parts to restore your door handles and make them open like new again
 

Incon

Member
Jun 14, 2010
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Jan 22, 2013
#6
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #6
Take a look at the weatherstripping... is it new? The last few sets I have changed seem to be thicker than what Ford used.
 

mob

the guy who hits on his mom
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#7
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #7
Definitely not a weatherstripping problem. Lots of mechanical problems inside the door. I know one of the rods that goes down to the latch is broken on the inside so I think I'm going to get it from a JY. So a new set of latches on both sides, maybe some stricker bolts and bushings to align the door, and a new actuator kit and I should be set right?

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/LRS-21842K/79-93-Ford-Mustang-Door-Lock-Actuator-Kit

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/LRS-21812A/79-93-Mustang-Rh-Door-Latch-Assembly
 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
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#8
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #8
You just have to know how to open a Fox door. You don't pull up on the handle...that's how handles get broke. The handle rotates up and inward towards the door. It's easier if you put your thumb on the top of the handle and press down/in while you're lifting with your other fingers. I've showed a few people this and it makes all the difference in the world.
 
Reactions: toolow91, Cory Berg and 93project

mob

the guy who hits on his mom
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#9
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #9
85_SS_302_Coupe said:
You just have to know how to open a Fox door. You don't pull up on the handle...that's how handles get broke. The handle rotates up and inward towards the door. It's easier if you put your thumb on the top of the handle and press down/in while you're lifting with your other fingers. I've showed a few people this and it makes all the difference in the world.
Click to expand...

Oh trust me I know this, I've have metal door handles on mine just because of people always breaking them. But they are to a point now where you have to put some serious force into it to pop the door open. I just want it to be a gentle little pop when i lift on it, not have to flex every muscle in my arm to open the door.

Should I also get the door hinge repair kit? I am not sure if I need it and sounds like a PIA to install. Although I will be having the fenders off should I get it out of the way?
 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
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#10
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #10
mob said:
Oh trust me I know this, I've have metal door handles on mine just because of people always breaking them. But they are to a point now where you have to put some serious force into it to pop the door open. I just want it to be a gentle little pop when i lift on it, not have to flex every muscle in my arm to open the door.

Should I also get the door hinge repair kit? I am not sure if I need it and sounds like a PIA to install. Although I will be having the fenders off should I get it out of the way?
Click to expand...


If you can't lift up on your door and feel play in the hinges, then they're fine. The striker on yours might need to be adjusted some...if it's too far in, that will make opening a lot harder (been there and done it). If you find that adjusting the striker out leaves your door out of line with the rest of the body, then your weather stripping is either too thick or you may look and see if the actual mechanism in the door can be adjusted inward towards the car some to help move it closer to the striker. I have seen hinges cause this problem, but like i said just lift up on the door and see if it wobbles. That could also be the whole problem. I lucked out on my swap doors, they had perfect hinges.
 

tca7291

I can see your wieners.
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Jan 22, 2013
#11
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #11
the actual handle is so hard
Click to expand...
Giggity...

My bud's 90 has the same problem with the drivers door, his striker is good as well as his hinge pins, but after 23 years, and 150k miles, the latch has gotten worn to the point where it just has too much slop in the latch parts, and the body. Not sure if this could be your issue also, but he is going ahead and replacing everything, as he is currently restoring it.
 

RacEoHolic330

I like to dress like a pretty girl
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Jan 22, 2013
#12
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #12
mob said:
Yes, the doors do need alignement, are you talking about the striker bolts? The part that bothers me is the actual handle is so hard. I want it to open like a brand new car. The passenger door is real bad, I actually have to lift it from the inside to pop the latch, and yes I can lift it up and down when its open. It also pops when it closes.
Click to expand...

No. I'm talking about the actual hinge pins, by the front fenders. When those wear, the door sags and makes it hard to pull the handle
 

Onefine88

Previously 89SSC18
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#13
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #13
Simple. Replace the hinge pins and bushings. As mentioned above, LRS sells a kit. And its cheap!
After that kit is installed, you'll need to adjust the striker bolt because it "will" be out of adjustment. Right now the entire weight of your door is hanging on that striker bolt when closed, making it hard to open the door.
Problem solved.

I've fixed a many of them. You can do it.

Good Luck
 

Incon

Member
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Jan 22, 2013
#14
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #14
If the car has new weatherstripping you may need to stretch it out some. Fresh rubber needs to be tweaked a little.
 

jrichker

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#15
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #15
Follow this link to fix your door lock actuator problems http://bellsouthpwp.net/l/r/lrichker/Mustang_tech/door_actuator_fix/1_of_8_door_actuator.htm

Stuck with door lock actuators that don't work and don't want to pay the $50+ for a new one? Tried the junkyard ones and found that they last six months and freeze up?

A new actuator for less than $8 Fix one side for $20, do both sides for only $30. I don't sell parts, I don’t make any money off of the upgrade, I just tell you how to do it cheaply and easily.

Here’s a picture of the new actuator installed:



By the way, i am still using the same $4 actuators I bought in 2002 and this is the second Mustang I have installed them in! Beat that with your fancy replacements!


Hinge pin & bushing kits are available at many auto parts stores. Or see http://www.texasmustang.com/ or http://www.mustang-unl.com/. Usually less than $8 for the kit with one pin & 2 bushings.

The hard part is to get the old pin out. Some were spot welded in, others were hammered so that the end mushroomed. Either way, it takes a grinder or cutter bit in a drill or Dremel tool to cut the pin or grind off the weld. Once it is off, tap the pin out with a hammer and a pin punch. Only remove one pin at a time so that you don't have the full weight of the door to manage. I highly recommend that you have a helper standing by to hold the door.

Once the old pin is out, lower the door and tap out the old bushings. Put the new bushings in and have the helper lift the door in place so that you can slide the new pin in. It may have to go in differently from the way it came out. That's OK, as long as you put the cotter pin in the hinge pin.

OOOPS!!!The important thing to remember is that the hinge pin isn't supposed to move once you are finished. If it does, then you will end up like me - the pin moved, it wore the door hinge instead of the replaceable bushings. Now in order to fix it right, I had to remove the whole thing again and drill out the hinge to the same size as the bushing and use 2 sets of bushings in each hinge rather than one set.

The fix for the OOOPS was very time consuming and if you aren't up to some very interesting machine work, do it right so you won't have to do it again. I fixed the OOOPS but I had $65 worth of drill bit and specialized reamer plus pulling the fender off to fix it.

I ended up removing the fender and removing the hinge bracket. Set the hinges up in a drill press to insure that the holes will be drilled straight and in line with each other. Getting the hinge bracket set up in the drill press is very important. The top hole and bottom hole are drilled and reamed without taking the hinge bracket out of its mounting on the drill press. This insures that the holes are in prefect alignment with each other.

Then I used a 15/32 drill to the old hinge pin holes out. Next, I used a .4780 straight reamer in the drill press to ream the holes out to the same size as the replacement bushing. Push the bushings in and use a little hard setting Locktite to secure them. If I did it again, I would probably go with .001-.0015 smaller reamer for a press fit.

A word or warning, if you choose this method, mike the bushing OD before you order the reamer. You bushings may not be the same OD as the ones I used. The reamers can be purchased with almost any size OD you need, but be sure to get the right size the first time.

Drill bit and reamer are available from MSC direct (www.mscdirect.com)
Reamer P/N 72034788 - $45
Drill bit P/N 84579861 - $17
 

mob

the guy who hits on his mom
20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 3, 2003
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Jan 22, 2013
#16
  • Jan 22, 2013
  • #16
AH JOE! I shoulda known you had a write up! Thanks man.
 
M

mustang 88

Member
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cleveland ga
Jan 28, 2013
#17
  • Jan 28, 2013
  • #17
I read your post yesterday and went out and got door hinges today from the help center at the local parts store. Took a drill bit and drilled old pin top off and a little elbow grease and out they popped. The new ones went in easier than the old ones came out. I used a floor jack as a second person with a piece of rubber to protect the paint. Doors shut like new. Cost 12.00 each side. Hope this helps. And I have new weather stripping also .
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
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Jan 28, 2013
#18
  • Jan 28, 2013
  • #18
passanger side is like new i can open with my pinkey.... driver side well i need that whole thumb maneuver
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
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#19
  • Jan 28, 2013
  • #19
mine open outward
 
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