johzev

Here are a couple of progress pictures of my door strap project. I'm going the extreme route with fender and door off. When I stopped at the shop yesterday I was surprised to see that even with the fender and door removed you still can't access the spot that needs to be repaired without cutting into the door post attached to the car. When repaired you will not be able to see the work but the door post will need to be cut open.

Chuck W.

Wow..... now that is a design flaw. Nice job. I went the cheap way 4 years ago and it has just broken loose.

Cactus

I am very careful opening my doors because I don't want this problem.

Mike J

Wow, that is pretty extreme for sure! I had both sides welded up years ago on the ouside, and knock on wood, its all fine. My body shop did the welding, then they ground the weld down so its very smooth, prime and painted, and it looks like factory.

I was looking for a picture to post but I moved from my PC to a iMAC (thank god!!) and I am not sure if I transferred the old picture...

Cheers,

Mike

993_Pilot

I went the cheap way 6 months ago and it just broke loose again. I was careful too. I guess it's time to cut in to the door frame!

johzev

Would really like to hear from anybody that has completed the expensive fix and has some good photos or info on how they opened up the post and what the reinforcement process was?

trickydisco

Thanks in advance to all who share their door check experience/pics.

Mine's clicking.

Chuck W.

TheOtherEric posted this photo in '06. It is one of the cleanest jobs I have seen. When I go in to have mine repaired again, this photo will be used as an example.

993_Pilot

Mine looked that good too, but it didn't last. Doing the repair from the outside, you are welding the check strap attach point, to thin sheet metal, which will still flex, fatigue, and eventually crack. My body guy recommended cutting in to the frame and adding doublers, i.e. reinforcing the frame with thicker metal, then welding it all back up. It should all look the same when it is done, but the key is to have it properly strengthened, so it will last.

Mike J

I am pretty sure is actually my car and I took the picture! I posted it long time ago. BTW, the welds are still holding fine after quite a few years. One other secret is to grind down the indents a bit on the arm that holds the door from swinging open so its not so hard on the attachment point.

Cheers,

Mike

willchao

My recent fix looked like this as well, but my shop cut a window through the area and used a sturdier structure behind it for support.

AOW162435

I've heard of someone completing the repair by going through the kick panel area. Does anyone remember this?


Andreas

tigerrat

My repair was via the footwell/kick panel but I don't have any details. Looks original from outside. I agree with Mike but trimmed the rub pads on the checkstrap mechanisim to reduce the push/pull force on the attach point. You need to be more aware of wind and parking on hills though. Ken

Chuck W.

Mike… You’re right. I re-read the posting I found the picture on and theothereric stated, “The exact same thing happened to me. I took it to any ol' shop down the street and they welded and painted it for $100. I was armed with the following pic, which helped explain what I wanted them to do.”

Sorry about that…

Mike J

Hey, no problems at all, I actually was looking for that picture on my PC so I could repost it, but I could not find it...

Thanks for finding the picture again!

Cheers,

Mike