Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: BettyBlu on 08 March 2010, 16:24:27
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Sorry if this isn't the correct forum but couldn't find reference to this issue anywhere else here.
Do any of your doors make multiple cracking noises as you open them, and to a lesser degree when you close them? Usually the most used drivers door.
Anyway, if it is, get it sorted ASAP!
I didn't and when I decided to have a go at fixing it I found I was too late and the door check strap has literally torn a chunk out of the inner door where it bolts to it.
No simple repair possible - basically a good door ruined for a relatively simple problem.
There is a simple kit available to prevent the door check strap from tearing a piece out of your mig and the fitting although fiddly is relatively easy. It consists of two reinforcement plates, new bolts and bushes and I recommend you doing this ASAP!
Anyone got a decent 1998 Silver drivers door? :(
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Sorry if this isn't the correct forum but couldn't find reference to this issue anywhere else here.
Do any of your doors make multiple cracking noises as you open them, and to a lesser degree when you close them? Usually the most used drivers door.
Anyway, if it is, get it sorted ASAP!
I didn't and when I decided to have a go at fixing it I found I was too late and the door check strap has literally torn a chunk out of the inner door where it bolts to it.
No simple repair possible - basically a good door ruined for a relatively simple problem.
There is a simple kit available to prevent the door check strap from tearing a piece out of your mig and the fitting although fiddly is relatively easy. It consists of two reinforcement plates, new bolts and bushes and I recommend you doing this ASAP!
Anyone got a decent 1998 Silver drivers door? :(
Very well documented here :y You can do a reasonably effective repair to you existing door using the reiforcing plates .... that's all that hold my door open as the front edge of the door is shot. ;)
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152902108
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Ah, thanks for that! Sorry for the double post.
I honestly had a good search - looked for doors cracking, door check strap, door stays and nothing came up...
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Ah, thanks for that! Sorry for the double post.
I honestly had a good search - looked for doors cracking, door check strap, door stays and nothing came up...
No worries .... there are lots of double posts. ;) ;) ;) Some of us have wasted more time here than others & so have a rough idea of what's been posted :y :y :y
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Very well documented here :y You can do a reasonably effective repair to you existing door using the reiforcing plates .... that's all that hold my door open as the front edge of the door is shot. ;)
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152902108
In reference to you saying a repair is possible, how bad was the tearing on your door? On mine it's literally ripped all the way around the top and right hand side and a bit at the bottom and quite bent and warped with it.
I imagine for the repair to work the plates need to sandwich the strap between some good metal all the way around?
Any info much appreciated.
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Very well documented here :y You can do a reasonably effective repair to you existing door using the reiforcing plates .... that's all that hold my door open as the front edge of the door is shot. ;)
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152902108
In reference to you saying a repair is possible, how bad was the tearing on your door? On mine it's literally ripped all the way around the top and right hand side and a bit at the bottom and quite bent and warped with it.
I imagine for the repair to work the plates need to sandwich the strap between some good metal all the way around?
Any info much appreciated.
Hi, it is possible to repair baddly damaged doors. You just need a big enough plate inside and out to do it. I made my own as I didn't know you could buy them at the time but I made them just big enough to fit into the gaps to give as much support as possible.
Al
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Very well documented here :y You can do a reasonably effective repair to you existing door using the reiforcing plates .... that's all that hold my door open as the front edge of the door is shot. ;)
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152902108
In reference to you saying a repair is possible, how bad was the tearing on your door? On mine it's literally ripped all the way around the top and right hand side and a bit at the bottom and quite bent and warped with it.
I imagine for the repair to work the plates need to sandwich the strap between some good metal all the way around?
Any info much appreciated.
The area where the strap should bolt to the leading edge of the door had torn out completely on my drivers' door. Passenger side door was ripped/cracked but the steel hadn't been ripped out completely and was still in place. :y
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Cheers Al, I wouldn't know where to start, making bits and all that! :)
I think I've got lucky anyway as a matching door with correct paint code is available nearby with all except door card and mirror (which I have) for £50 and in fair condition. So a door swap it's going to be!
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Cheers Al, I wouldn't know where to start, making bits and all that! :)
I think I've got lucky anyway as a matching door with correct paint code is available nearby with all except door card and mirror (which I have) for £50 and in fair condition. So a door swap it's going to be!
Put the reinforcing plates on before you fit the door. I don't think you need to replace yours though really.
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Blimey - what about a slight creak ? :(
i will not get much sleep tonight worrying about my door, just got over worrying about my cam belt ... ::)
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Blimey - what about a slight creak ? :(
i will not get much sleep tonight worrying about my door, just got over worrying about my cam belt ... ::)
parts are less than a quid in Vx dealers so worth doing anyway just to be safe
:y
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Start with the cheapest. Replace the plastic bush. Can't remember how much exactly, but under £1 inc vat from Main Stealers.
Took a couple of minutes to do the job and the door is now perfect.
Up until then I had two almighty cracking sounds as I opened the door. Fixed in an instant.
Main Stealer tried selling me over £30 worth (ex.vat) of VX kit, as it was the "only" way to do it properly.
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Put the reinforcing plates on before you fit the door. I don't think you need to replace yours though really.
Absolutely fitting the plates first, bit of an awkward operation when the door is on, especially once you match the strap to the A post which leaves you less space to work in!
It may seem very extravagant getting a whole door instead of attempting a fix but I really don't have much faith in my skills for the fix.
Which incidentally became more apparent when I struggled to remove the now unbolted strap from the current door to prevent further damage, especially to the A post. How on earth do you get the strap back in? It was tricky enough getting it out (via the speaker hole) - so a new door where I can work on it at whatever angle. I think this is the best approach in this case.
@Mudflap - maybe get some grease in over the strap mechanism as well as new bushes.
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Replace the plastic bush. Took a couple of minutes to do the job and the door is now perfect.
Up until then I had two almighty cracking sounds as I opened the door. Fixed in an instant.
Turk, would you say failure of the bushes is the catalyst for this problem. Putting too much strain on the door strap mounts because it's no longer rotating freely or smoothly?
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Put the reinforcing plates on before you fit the door. I don't think you need to replace yours though really.
Absolutely fitting the plates first, bit of an awkward operation when the door is on, especially once you match the strap to the A post which leaves you less space to work in!
It may seem very extravagant getting a whole door instead of attempting a fix but I really don't have much faith in my skills for the fix.
Which incidentally became more apparent when I struggled to remove the now unbolted strap from the current door to prevent further damage, especially to the A post. How on earth do you get the strap back in? It was tricky enough getting it out (via the speaker hole) - so a new door where I can work on it at whatever angle. I think this is the best approach in this case.
@Mudflap - maybe get some grease in over the strap mechanism as well as new bushes.
You would fit the reinforcing plates to your 'new' door in exactly the same way as you would to your current door. The check strap just pokes through the hole at the front & then you bolt it in from the out side of the leading face of the door, same way as you unbolted it. :y
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Replace the plastic bush. Took a couple of minutes to do the job and the door is now perfect.
Up until then I had two almighty cracking sounds as I opened the door. Fixed in an instant.
Turk, would you say failure of the bushes is the catalyst for this problem. Putting too much strain on the door strap mounts because it's no longer rotating freely or smoothly?
It doesn't rotate, it just keeps the arm in the right position. Not sure whether it's a cause of check strap total failure, but there's certainly no loud cracking sound echoeing down the road when I open the door now.
It may not fix all, some may have get the plates too, but even that is no big deal.
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@Andy B:
hehe, you make it sound a doddle, and I've no doubt it probably is to you.
When I was removing the strap mechanism there just seemed to be all sorts of things in the way and I had to turn it around and fumble and turn some more until I found a gap that it fitted through and could then withdraw via the speaker hole.
There's no way I will remember that sequence of twist and turns in order to reverse the process. I've no idea what it looks like in there and I didn't want to disturb the pristine plastic sheeting over the rest of the door to have a look.
I appreciate I really should have more mechanical nous running a 12yr old car on a limited budget, but what other comfy, smooth, powerful and reliable car with >1800 litres of boot space could I possibly own?
@Turk: Surely it must rotate around the axis that is joined to the A post. Else it would just be fixed and no bushes required?
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@Andy B:
hehe, you make it sound a doddle, and I've no doubt it probably is to you.
When I was removing the strap mechanism there just seemed to be all sorts of things in the way and I had to turn it around and fumble and turn some more until I found a gap that it fitted through and could then withdraw via the speaker hole.
...... I've no idea what it looks like in there and I didn't want to disturb the pristine plastic sheeting over the rest of the door to have a look.
I .....
I doubt I'd have been able to do mine with the plastic sheet still in place ;D You'll have to carefully remove it to anything in & around the door. You could do with a warmer day than it has been here, but if you carefully remove the sheet, you'll be able to replace it using the same goo it's held on with now.
The arm of the check strap just pokes through the front face of the door .... that's it :y
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Many thanks for the tips everyone - nice little job for the weekend :y
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oooo i'd best get some door bushes for my drivers door then :)
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Reinforcement plates avalible from vx, part No 9195961 x1 needed for each door.
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Reinforcement plates avalible from vx, part No 9195961 x1 needed for each door.
but you'll need two if the door is ripped where the stay should bolt, one inside the door & another cut top and bottom in the recess at the front face of the door where the stay pokes through. :y
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@Andy B:
hehe, you make it sound a doddle, and I've no doubt it probably is to you.
When I was removing the strap mechanism there just seemed to be all sorts of things in the way and I had to turn it around and fumble and turn some more until I found a gap that it fitted through and could then withdraw via the speaker hole.
There's no way I will remember that sequence of twist and turns in order to reverse the process. I've no idea what it looks like in there and I didn't want to disturb the pristine plastic sheeting over the rest of the door to have a look.
I appreciate I really should have more mechanical nous running a 12yr old car on a limited budget, but what other comfy, smooth, powerful and reliable car with >1800 litres of boot space could I possibly own?
@Turk: Surely it must rotate around the axis that is joined to the A post. Else it would just be fixed and no bushes required?
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The arm obviously pivots, but the bush doesn't move. Apart from allowing a very slight vertical movement, my original bush appeared ok, but by Jingo did the door give an almighty crack until I got it changed.
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Reinforcement plates avalible from vx, part No 9195961 x1 needed for each door.
but you'll need two if the door is ripped where the stay should bolt, one inside the door & another cut top and bottom in the recess at the front face of the door where the stay pokes through. :y
Agreed. Pair per door.... ;)