How Can I Align the Car Door to the Body?
If your car door is not aligned properly, it can cause a number of problems, including difficulty opening and closing the door, water leaks, and wind noise. In some cases, a misaligned door can even pose a safety hazard.
Fortunately, aligning a car door is not a difficult task. With the right tools and a little patience, you can do it yourself in a few hours.
Tools You Will Need
- Socket wrench set
- Wrench set
- Screwdriver set
- Hammer
- Pry bar
- Level
- Tape measure
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open the door and remove the door panel.
- Locate the door hinges. There are typically two or three hinges on each door.
- Loosen the bolts that hold the hinges in place. Do not remove the bolts completely, just loosen them enough so that you can move the door.
- Adjust the door until it is aligned properly. Use the level to make sure that the door is level, and the tape measure to make sure that the door is the same distance from the body on all sides.
- Tighten the bolts that hold the hinges in place.
- Reinstall the door panel.
- Check the door to make sure that it opens and closes properly.
Tips
- If you are having trouble aligning the door, you can use a pry bar to help you. Just be careful not to damage the door or the body.
- If the door is still not aligned properly after you have tightened the bolts, you may need to adjust the striker plate. The striker plate is the metal plate on the body of the car that the door latch engages with.
- If you are not comfortable aligning the door yourself, you can take it to a mechanic. However, be prepared to pay a significant amount of money for the repair.
Troubleshooting
If you are having trouble aligning the door, there are a few things that you can check:
- Make sure that the hinges are not bent or damaged.
- Make sure that the striker plate is not bent or damaged.
- Make sure that the door latch is not damaged.
- Make sure that the body of the car is not bent or damaged.
If you have checked all of these things and the door is still not aligned properly, you may need to take it to a mechanic.
Conclusion
Aligning a car door is not a difficult task, but it does require a little patience. With the right tools and a little time, you can do it yourself and save yourself a lot of money.
