Sliding Door: Adjustments

SLIDING DOOR ADJUSTMENTS

PRELIMINARY CHECKS

1. Close the sliding door, visually checking C-post striker alignment entry into latch. Striker at this point must not affect alignment. Striker should go straight into the latching mechanism.
2. On vehicles with left sliding doors, check the fuel door blocker striker entry into latch. Striker at this point must not affect alignment.
3. Check C-post and B-post for door to aperture gaps and door to door gaps. All gaps should be 5 mm ± 1 mm.
4. Check door for height using character lines as a reference. Also check roof contour as a controlling factor.
Using the procedures noted below, adjust the side door in the order the individual steps are called out.

DOOR FLUSHNESS ADJUSTMENT

1. Check sliding door flushness at the C-pillar striker.
2. Adjust the C-pillar striker in or out until the door is flush.
3. Check upper B-pillar flushness to A-pillar cover.
4. Loosen one nut on upper hinge and adjust door in or out until the door is flush.
5. Check flushness at upper C-pillar.
6. If upper C-pillar flushness is out of specification use a heavy rubber mallet on the door assembly until door is in spec.

DOOR GAP ADJUSTMENT - UP/DOWN

UP/DOWN ADJUSTMENT

1.Visually inspect the sliding door for fitting low at the top of the door by checking the alignment of the top contour of the door to the quarter panel.
2. Fully open the sliding door.
3. Verify that all center hinge bolts are tight.

Fig. 19:

4. Adjust the rear of the sliding door up by turning the center hinge bolt clockwise (Fig. 19).
5. Close the door and check the sliding door alignment.
6. Fully open door and apply thread lock nut onto the center hinge bolt. Tighten nut until till it butts up against the welded nut on the center hinge. Tighten nut to 15 N.m (130 in.lbs.). It may be necessary to hold the center hinge bolt to prevent it from turning while tightening nut.
7. Verify alignment. Re-adjust as necessary.

DOOR GAP ADJUSTMENT - FORE/AFT

FORE/AFT ADJUSTMENT
1. Check height of sliding door at the B-post and C-post to determine which area is contributing the greatest to the incorrect gaps.
2. If the sliding door is high at the C-post;
a. Open the door to mid-point of travel.
b. Mark outline of center hinge on sliding door to assist in making adjustments.

Fig. 19:

c. Loosen center hinge bolts (Fig. 19).
d. Move hinge fore or aft to position the sliding door into the correct location.
e. Tighten Center hinge bolts.
f. Verify alignment. Re-adjust as necessary.
3. If the sliding door is low at the B-post;
a. Remove access plug in the sliding door trim panel.
b. Open the door to mid-point of travel.
c. Mark outline of lower roller arm bracket on sliding door to assist in making adjustments.

Fig. 20:

d. Loosen lower roller arm bracket bolts (Fig. 20).
e. Move hinge downward to raise the door.
f. Tighten lower roller arm bracket bolts.
g. Verify alignment. Re-adjust as necessary.

4. If the sliding door is low at the C-post;
a. Open the door to mid-point of travel.
b. Mark outline of center hinge on sliding door to assist in making adjustments.

Fig. 19:

c. Adjust the adjustment bolt up or down to move the door position. (Fig. 19).
d. Move hinge downward to raise the door.
e. Tighten center hinge bolts.
f. Verify alignment. Re-adjust as necessary.
5. If the sliding door is high at the B-post;
a. Remove access plug in the sliding door trim panel.
b. Open the door to mid-point of travel.
c. Mark outline of lower roller arm bracket on sliding door to assist in making adjustments.

Fig. 20:

d. Loosen lower roller arm bracket bolts (Fig. 20).
e. Move hinge upward to raise the door.
f. Tighten lower roller arm bracket bolts.
g. Verify alignment. Re-adjust as necessary.

DOOR SEAL COMPRESSION

1. Check seal compression near the middle of the door even with the latch assembly, using a Chatillon Force Gauge or equivalent. Seal load should not exceed 120 N.m. Any reading under 120 N.m is acceptable.
2. Adjust seal compression at the top of the B-post seal;
a. Open door to mid-point of travel.
b. Mark outline of upper roller arm on bracket to assist in making adjustments.

Fig. 21:

c. Loosen bolts holding upper roller arm to bracket (Fig. 21)
d. Decrease the length of the upper roller arm to increase seal compression.
e. Increase the length of the upper roller arm to decrease seal compression.
f. Tighten all upper roller arm bolts.
g. Verify door alignment. Re-adjust as necessary.

3. Adjust seal compression at the bottom of B-post seal.
a. Open door to mid-point of travel.

Fig. 22:

b. Mark outline of lower roller arm on lower roller arm bracket to assist in making adjustments (Fig. 22).
c. Loosen bolts holding lower roller arm to lower roller arm bracket.
d. Pivot lower roller arm toward center of vehicle to decrease seal compression.
e. Pivot lower roller arm outward to increase seal compression.
f. Tighten lower roller arm bolts.
g. Verify alignment. Re-adjust as necessary.

NOTE: Adjusting seal compression at the a-post can affect door flushness the C-post.

STABILIZER ADJUSTMENT

1. Open sliding door.
2. Loosen the bolts holding the male stabilizers to the sliding door enough that the stabilizers can move with some effort.
3. Close and then reopen sliding door.
4. Tighten all stabilizers bolts.