both front doors are very hard to close all the way. you have to slam the door pretty hard to actually close it due to the door stops being old/broken?? Im not sure how I can easly remove the door stops/striker and replace them if that is the prob

easy.. two allen head screws.. 5mm.. unbolt.. bolt in new ones and your done

sometimes it's farr from easy. be sure to gently hit the allen socket into the bolt head to shake the connection. also, be sure to carefully mark the alignment of the current striker. small amounts of pb blaster have been known to help old tight bolts too.
John
oh, and it's probably not the entire striker that is bad, just the little plastic ramp on the leading edge of the striker, so if you go parts car shopping, be sure to get strikers that have good solid ramps.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Those allen heads are really easy to strip out. If you spend some time you can get them to close with almost no force. I spent a few hours getting mine perfect. I spent 5 minutes last night opening and shutting my door chuckling like a nutjob. sooo nice.

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"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

I used a hammer impact tool - you can buy them at Sears. The ONLY way I was able to get them loose w/o stripping the heads. I took the tool, and a good size hammer to a junkyard and removed 6-8 strikers in a half hour. You'll need a 3/8 allen head socket and some muscle. Cost about $25 - I think.

ryan

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RG Newell

1984 300D
1972 250
1986 560SL
1991 300CE

be careful with that impact tool. I couldn`t get my L/R striker off, took
to this shop I use to use. the guy used an impact with a hammer and
slightly bent the sheet metal.
Junk yard cars is one thing, give them h311. your own, be gentle.
charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

If you examine your door strikers, you will notice a little plastic ramp (sort of) device that is inserted into the striker........if these are broken, then this is "most likely" the source of your hard door closing problem.....

These are supposed to be a replacement item, but I have never actually found them.....please search on "Door Striker" (or maybe stryker...don't remember how I spelled it) but I did a little photo assisted repair thread late last summer, or fall.....BUT.....I have successfully filed some out of some hard plastic that I had saved from mt refrigerator packing...I think!!

Anyhoo....I made a couple......and glued them in with Gorilla Glue.....no problems so far......

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

SB, can you use any kind of hard plastic? Mine are toast too and like you said I can't seem to find them for sale anywhere.

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1981 300 SD 213k miles "Stock for now"
1999 Super Duty 7.3L 113k miles
1981 300 SD 180k miles "Heavily modified" SOLD

Phil and Rusty both list them under

Body mechanical & trim // door striker

I dug out all of the broken pieces with an "O" Ring pick.....the little ramps have a tang that goes up under the rubber.....

I used the packing plastic because it was black, hard, and more than likely impact resistant.....but any hard plastic should work....as long as you can file on it.....

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

That's the whole striker......I'm only speaking about the little ramp looking device that fits into the bottom of the striker....and is sold as part of the striker.....there is some discussion in the archives relating to these little ramps.....I might even have a part # someplace.....the little ramps are supposed to be a replacement part.....

If the problem is just the little ramp......I think it actuates the catch.....and if you can repair the little ramp.....you don't need to remove the striker....and thus avoid the re-alignment process.....

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

i have a little impact hammer device too. these door latches are about all i have used it for, iirc.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.