How to Adjust a Car Door
by Christopher L. Ingersoll
Doors can get bent out of shape in several ways. You could get into a fender bender, someone could slam the seat belt buckle in the door, or the hinges can just get old and worn. No matter how your door gets out of alignment, if you can't close it all the way then you need to have it fixed. Most doors use the same basic mechanism. With a few tools, your door can be easily adjusted.
Step 1
Open the door and locate the two hinges where the door pivots from the vehicle.
Step 2
Look for any wear or bending on either hinge. The hinge that looks bent or otherwise damaged will be the one you want to adjust.
Step 3
Loosen the bolts with the socket wrench on the affected hinge just enough to where it could be moved with the pry bar.
Step 4
Move the hinge forward or backward in small increments, then gently try to close the door to see if it is back in alignment. If it isn't, continue to move it either frontward or backward until the door closes securely and without slamming.
Step 5
Tighten the bolts back down on the hinges securely using the socket wrench.
References
- "General Motors Blazer/Jimmy 1969-1982 Repair Manual;" Chilton's Automotive Books; 1997
Things You'll Need
- Socket wrench
- Padded pry bar
Writer Bio
Based in Bend, OR, Christopher L. Ingersoll has been an Air Force photojournalist since 2005. His work has been posted worldwide in publications such as “Air Force Times” and “Air Force Link.” Christopher was recently awarded the Department of Defense Thomas Jefferson Award and graduated from the Defense Information School in multimedia with honors.
