Help, I've buggered up me side door :-(

Post by **PEET** » 09 Aug 2008, 14:17

Easiest way to straighten them would be to bolt a bar on and twist i reckon. Good luck!!!

Post by **aec** » 01 Sep 2008, 09:04

OK just to draw this one to a close and in the highly unlikely event that anyone else does something as daft as driving their sliding door into a wall....

The bottom runner bracket was not bent, I bought another to be sure but they were identical, made no difference. The force on the bracket had however distorted the inside of the door; not enough to notice when looking at it, but enough to put the runner bracket angle out so that it wouldn't get to the final fully open stage. With the runner bracket removed, I gave the rear of the 3 fixing points a few careful whacks with a hammer until the runner ran smoothly again.

I haven't done anything to the top runner; I still can't believe it got bent (not in this incident anyway), the door now works fine again, and, as they say, "if it aint broke..." !

Cheers !

al

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 01 Sep 2008, 19:52

Would it help if I took shots of mine from same angle? Happy to oblige in morning if so.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 02 Sep 2008, 16:51

Did them anyway:

Mine:

[img:470:352]https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/images/Topslidingbracket.jpg[/img]

Yours:

[img:500:375]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/274 ... 98377d.jpg[/img]

Mine:

[img:470:352]https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/images/Botslidingbracket.jpg[/img]

Yours:

[img:500:375]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2295/274 ... 4a2ddc.jpg[/img]

Post by **aec** » 02 Sep 2008, 23:16

Thanks! I'd say that was pretty conclusive!

When I get time I'll try Peet's suggestion of bolting a bar onto it, to see if it'll twist with minimal force.

cheers!

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 04 Sep 2008, 10:59

Theres a slight rake to the top one but nowhere near as accute as yours. Mind you, if it all works and closes, maybe I wouldn't worry too much.

Post by **jason k** » 04 Sep 2008, 17:12

whooah now!!!! dont go hitting owt yet.

there may be a difference with early and late doors. im sure my early door bracket had a crank to it.

maybe someone with an early van can take a pic for you.

Post by **davidm** » 04 Sep 2008, 18:44

I know just how you must have felt.
3 weeks ago, having broken down 500 miles from home, i was pushing Doug (my van) backwards up the side of the block of flats to leave the entrance clear, - BANG - the door had swung open behind me and hit the wall as i negotiated steering around a parked car. - dented edge of drivers door, now i think every panel on the van has a dent, so at least its not the only one, and the door still shuts. got recovered from glasgow to kent next day, - saved some petrol at least!

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 04 Sep 2008, 21:06

Well mine is a B reg so may be on the cusp. Right folks, lets see pics of your top brackets - don't be shy

Post by **tezza** » 05 Sep 2008, 09:19

B reg on the cusp my condolences, got one, bloody nightmare. I think VW have free therapy available on the N.H.S.!!

Post by **aec** » 06 Sep 2008, 14:17

Yep, mines B reg too. I think I'm gonna leave it. As I said all along, I can't believe it could have been bent by this knock, it would have totally broken the "for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction" rule of physics, and more importantly it's working fine as it is !