Saggy Door Latches - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

camsna · #1 07-06-2010, 11:34 PM

Do I need to replace them if I want to see them all young and perky again? Or can I adjust them somehow? I'd just like to know what to expect before popping off my door panels.

Thanks!

vstech · #2 07-07-2010, 12:59 AM

what are they doing?

camsna · #3 07-07-2010, 07:10 AM

Sorry 'bout being vague.

Instead of being something like parallel with the ground, that is, straight, they 'point' downward.

charmalu · #4 07-07-2010, 09:50 AM

I noticed my drivers door is like this, haven`t noticed the rest of them. It`s probably from 28 years of wear and tear.
Look in All Parts Express, your yr model, under body parts. $27 new.

Or there is the JY. maybe a back door is the same from the same side. they get used a lot less.

Charlie

RML · #5 07-07-2010, 11:59 AM

I had to replace my passenger door latch a couple of years ago. It is cast/pot metal and a section had cracked from stress, which caused it to lose its support from the upper side.

If it is really cheap at the junk yard, I would consider it, but the one you get may fail soon as well. Depends on how much wear and tear it has had. If you want to do it once and forget about it for another 25 years, get a new one.

fruitcakesa · #6 07-07-2010, 12:24 PM

The drivers door latch on the 82 stress cracked so I stole the left rear latch [it is the same part with lots less wear].
Since this is my daughters car, she just tells her friends to roll down the window and use the outside latch.
At some point I will replace that one too.

JB3 · #7 07-07-2010, 12:49 PM

Im always amazed that they still work well broken like that. Every 123 I have ever owned, the door handle has lost that upper pivot support, and yet all the doors opened. Finally replaced one and realized the original was broken after 3 years of daily use by me without any issue. Replaced it for the same reason, the sagging was annoying me after that time.

RML · #8 07-07-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fruitcakesa

The drivers door latch on the 82 stress cracked so I stole the left rear latch [it is the same part with lots less wear].
Since this is my daughters car, she just tells her friends to roll down the window and use the outside latch.
At some point I will replace that one too.

That would concern me as a safety / liability issue. If a passenger needed to quickly exit the car they would be in trouble. God forbid there was a fire from an internal problem or impact and spill from another car or truck, a panicking person would probably not get out. It does not seem worth it. I have certainly rigged a lot of stuff on my cars, but I feel a lot more comfortable doing it when it affects just me rather than someone else.

Not telling you what to do or trying to make you feel guilty, just presenting the issues.

ronald7410 · #9 07-09-2010, 02:19 AM

Could this possibly be the same thing thats happening to my CE. I have to force the door open when I get out of the car because it sags at the latch.

fruitcakesa · #10 07-09-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RML

That would concern me as a safety / liability issue. If a passenger needed to quickly exit the car they would be in trouble. God forbid there was a fire from an internal problem or impact and spill from another car or truck, a panicking person would probably not get out. It does not seem worth it. I have certainly rigged a lot of stuff on my cars, but I feel a lot more comfortable doing it when it affects just me rather than someone else.

Not telling you what to do or trying to make you feel guilty, just presenting the issues.

I did give it some thought but as my daughter spends most of her time with her BF, there is rarely a rear seat passenger anymore.