door alignment, 98 outback

[johnceggleston]

i picked up a green 98 outbak 140k, auto (w/ busted passenger cam sprocket) and the driver door alignment is off. the leading edge seems to match the fender well but the rear edge sits out a bit, probably only 1/8", or less, but it seems like a ton.

 

it closes, latches and locks ok, but in really heavy rain it leaks a little. and the top rear corner of the glass (maybe about an inch) drags on the top plastic trim strip as it closes.

 

are there adjustments i cam make to the hinges? or the latch or strike to correct this? or is this a ''been wrecked'' problem that i'll have to live with. would a replacement door help? or is the problem in one of the pillars? the car fax is clean but that just means the insurance company, police and dealer haven't heard of an accident.

 

i've swapped a rear door, a long, long time ago but i can't remember exactly how the hinges work.

 

thanks for you help.

 

john

[ShawnW]

The striker on the pillar between the doors has 2 large phillips head bolts holding it. Sometimes this will loosen/move in an accident.

Otherwise maybe the hinges got bent and you need the ones on the new door to make it work?

 

There are adjustments for the glass more than the door but I wouldnt start messing with that until the door shuts fully.

[OB99W]

John, for complete info on '98 doors, download all the PDFs here:

http://hp.auto.ru/Subaru%20Legacy/1998/Service%20Manual/BODY%20SECTION/DOORS%20AND%20WINDOWS/

 

For just door alignment, page 12 (PDF page 6) of this:

http://hp.auto.ru/Subaru%20Legacy/1998/Service%20Manual/BODY%20SECTION/DOORS%20AND%20WINDOWS/MSA5TCD98L21235.pdf

[johnceggleston]

The striker on the pillar between the doors has 2 large phillips head bolts holding it. Sometimes this will loosen/move in an accident.

Otherwise maybe the hinges got bent and you need the ones on the new door to make it work?

 

There are adjustments for the glass more than the door but I wouldnt start messing with that until the door shuts fully.

 

sounds like i need a BFS too loosen those strike screws.

 

thanks.

[Fairtax4me]

Need one of these. http://www.theautopartsshop.com/14856.htm

[idosubaru]

did you search or check those threads below titled door alignment?

 

i had to realign a door for some reason about a year or so ago. can't recall any details, but once i had a look it was really easy. just a few tweaks and it was golden.

 

there's not much to it, roughly 4 bolts to remove the door - either from the door itself or unbolt the hinges and leave those on the door - or both.

 

and then the striker. yeah don't even try a screwdriver on those - use an impact srew driver, the kind you hit with a hammer (forget what they're called for sure) or drill it out....but then you don't have another screw for it.

 

good luck beast!.

Edited August 27, 2010 by grossgary

[johnceggleston]

did you search or check those threads below titled door alignment?

 

 

as many times as i have read these words you would think i'd remember them.

 

thanks.

[johnceggleston]

so i got the impact driver ($10) and used it to loosen the door strike. i expected to whack it a couple of times and then undo it the rest of the way by hand. but both screws had to be whacked continuously to remove them. some one had used blue thread lock on both.

 

one of them got boogered so i replaced them from my donor car and found a difference. the ones with thread lock were missing the star washers. this probably caused them to loosen, hence the thread lock, and prevent correct door alignment.

 

i adjusted the strike and now it closes and looks great. thanks for the help.

[Olnick]

Way to go, johnc! New car from old! Great feeling ain't it?