I can't get my drivers door to latch with new seals.

[beck]

I'm finally getting my truck close to completion.
My doors latched fine before I installed door seals from our sponsor. The passanger door closes and latches, but it's tight. The drivers door will not shut far enough for the latch to catch. I loosened the latch as far as possible. I have had a ratchet strap pulling the doors shut for 2 weeks, hoping to "train" the rubber. Still no go. Short of adjusting the door out I don't know what else to do. A buddy had a similar problem with a Camaro with new door seals. He says he solved the probem by ripping the "new" seals out and installing Softseal brand seals. I just glued these in. I sure don't want to rip them out and strip all the residue.

Any ideas?

 

[cowboy357]

Without Knowing What You did , or How You did it , As Far as Reparing or Replacing Rusted Panels , Wether Its the Door Frame, Or Doors Itself . If You Dont Have The Cab Level & Square , Where It Cant Possiblly Move Or Shift While You're Making the repairs & or Welding Panels in. Or If The Parts Were even Straight, Correctly fitting Before ,Makes A Great Difference IMO .

Theres More to Correctlly Fitting Doors, Door Frames & Getting A Better fit Than The Factory could Even Do 50 or 60 Years ago. I Highlly Doubt Its the Rubber Seals Fault . & I,m not Trying to Be Nit Picky . Just saying What I Think I Know .

The Cure Could Be As Simple as a Perfectlly Placed Pry Bar & Making Sure Everything is Properly Adjusted a Little Tweaking Here & There . I Use a Dollar Bill To setup Any Doors & such , Slip Through the Frame & Door rubber, & It Helps Narrow Down Where Its Either to loose or to Tight . If You can Pull it Though One Place & not Another, Then adjust it Where Its Even all the Way Around the Seal, If You Think its Close & Even Then & Only Then, Adjust Your Door Latches . & Patience Is Your Best Friend . Best of Luck. Bob

 

[dvalentine]

It's pretty common for the doors not to fully latch after replacing door seals. Try adjusting the strikers first before ripping out the seals. I've successfully used the seals for our host and they did require some door striker adjustment, but so would anyone else's..
Softseal is a good provider of weather stripping, but the defacto best-in-the-business for GM vehicles is Steele Rubber Products.

If the door gaps are complety wacko then yes you should start by doing the door alignment at the hinges. If the gaps are close, then start with the striker plate. Take your time, with either one, and try and sneak-up on the perfect adjustment.

Val