No More Door Slamming!

[KenFirch]

While trying to adjust my passenger door, which wouldn't shut without slamming, I can across this thread.

It seems to indicate the latch is missing a piece of rubber on one of the lobes (the larger one).

The suggested fix was to cut a piece of rubber tubing and glue it onto that lobe.

The other fix was to carefully remove some material from the catch so the locking lobe (the smaller one) doesn't hit before 

coming down into locking position.  

When the rubber is there I assume it worked great since the first lobe starts to rotate sooner to drop the second lobe into postion quicker.

I'm thinking, why in the heck did they decide to use rubber in this area!  No wonder they are missing!

I thought of making one out of plastic (Delrin) but I think it would eventually fail also.

So, here's what I came up with.  I fabricated a metal "C" shaped clip that I could pinch onto the lobe to replace the missing rubber.

It's made of 16 gauge (.062") steel, about 17/32" wide.  Easier to tightly install when latch is off the car, in a vice,

and tapping the piece around the other side of the lobe.  But probably doable while on the car with a good size set of channel locks. 

 

 

 

After a little adjusting of the latch and catch, a little spray of lithium grease, door closes perfect!

Hopefully this will last for awhile.  

 

Ken

[madkaw]

Interesting-thanks for sharing

[rossiz]

i'm always up for a good home-brew fix...

 

does the metal-to-metal induce any rattle?

[KenFirch]

does the metal-to-metal induce any rattle?

Nope, it's a fairly tight fit around the lobe, no movement. Plus, once it does it's job of starting the rotation of the the latch, the smaller lobe takes over the movement, and larger lobe (with new piece) rotates up towards the outside, out of use. The small lobe once facing downward in the closed position is a pretty tight fit, along with adjusting the dovetail, preventing door movement. The original setup, when in closed position, doesn't change, a metal to metal connection. The original rubber (now metal) just gets the rotation started. That added 1/16" improves the geometry of the whole setup. I'll post a long term update once I get a few hundred door closes.

[Patcon]

What year and model of Z?

C

[KenFirch]

73 240z, 7/73 build date.

[Oiluj]

Thanks for sharing this.   Never saw this piece of rubber on any of my cars.

I'm going to have to try that on my neighbor's Z.   Her passenger door closes hard.

I'll first try using hard rubber sheet, or perhaps machine a snap-on piece from polyurethane.

[nix240z]

or get the complete 5 piece set and take all the guess work out of what you need.

 

http://www.240zrubberparts.com/apps/webstore/products/show/4423585

 

Steve

[SteveJ]

or get the complete 5 piece set and take all the guess work out of what you need.

 

http://www.240zrubberparts.com/apps/webstore/products/show/4423585

 

Steve

Dang, there went some more money.  

[KenFirch]

or get the complete 5 piece set and take all the guess work out of what you need.

 

http://www.240zrubberparts.com/apps/webstore/products/show/4423585

 

Steve

 

Steve, I ordered 2 of these kits last week.  Thanks for making this and other items for us Z owners.

However, IMHO, I still think rubber is the wrong material for this particular area, and won't last long.

 

Ken 

[nix240z]

 

Steve, I ordered 2 of these kits last week.  Thanks for making this and other items for us Z owners.

However, IMHO, I still think rubber is the wrong material for this particular area, and won't last long.

 

Ken 

 

I am not sure how long they will last either but I still have an original one on  the rightside door latch on my 71 240z. 

 

It is a tight fit getting the new rubber on and in place.

 

 

The rubber I use is industrial grade urethane, so if it fails it is not because of the product.

 

and thanks for the order.

 

I am all sold out now but making more.

 

Steve

[jackboxxx]

Just thought I would let everyone know who is still having "hard to close" door issues, that I gave the "glued" rubber method a shot last sunday when I was pulling my hair out trying to adjust my latches and not having any luck.  Works like a charm! I happened to have a small section of

1/4 inch fuel line laying on the garage floor while searching the forums Sunday for a fix for the latch, and thought what the hell, lets try

using a small section of this fuel line....couldnt hurt to try it right? I grabbed my wire cutter , eyeballed the size I needed...about 3/16 ish,

sniped off a piece of the fuel line,  then cut it so I could slide it over the lobe of the latch and presto! the door closes so easy now!!

 

so give it a try if you have the problem....