barn door "door checks"; also sliding door sticking

[Coaster]

95 astro barn doors. door checks are there and hooked up, and appear functional but wont hold the doors open even in zero wind. something is just worn out about them.

i've been waiting for some time to take them out and see if i can fix them, or am i better of replacing them with new parts?

yesterday i spent a few hours taking the sliding door apart and repairing the outside handle (which was horribly loose). the sliding door also seems to be sticking to the weatherstripping for some reason that i cant figure out, been thinking of putting some silcone spray on the ruber or something, any ideas?

[chevymaher]

One of my barn doors loose as a goose. One is Steve austin man barely alive. I keep 2 little pieces of 2X4 to put in the door for loading. Works perfect holding them open.
There is a little pain in the rear part you will never find that is worn out. That holds the door open.

[RECox286]

I use a piece of 1/2" pvc conduit, cut to a length that will hold the doors open, and inserted just aft of the overhead

latches. The "lanyards" that GM uses for the doors of all their vans, uh, er, ah, suck.

Uncle Bob

[icebrrg3rd]

I did find a set at the junkyard that still work good, as long as you're on fairly level ground and the wind isn't too strong. I do use the 2x4 method just as a backup to prevent the door from shutting. Yeah, they aren't that well designed nor long lasting.

-Andrew

[Ragenme]

I have the same issue. I have the kids hold the door while I unload. I just know one day they aren't going to be there to hold open anymore. Guess I should get some wood out of the shop!

[RECox286]

BTW, If you haven't noticed, all of our brothers and sisters who own Astro/Safari and G body vans have an unmistakable

trade mark (similar to a tattoo). That would be a very sore black and blue spot on their back from forgetting to park the

truck in a nose uphill position when getting something out of the back of the truck. Wanna learn the secrete handshake ???

Uncle Bob

[RECox286]

In re: sliding door.

Use shop air to clean as much dirt and other accumulated gunk out of the workings, then I use a garden hose to finish the job

in the lower and middle tracks. When dry, and with the help of shop air to get the job done, it is time for fresh lubricant.

I like the spray cans of CRC or the like to wet down the rollers, latches and door handles b/c it will dry, leaving a semi

lubricated surface that won't attract as much dirt as a white grease will. Clean, and lubricated parts is the rabbit in the

hat as far as all the hinges, latches and handles are concerned, including the bonnet, fuel door, rear doors, slider and

front passenger doors. At least it seems that the (crumby) door handles last a lot longer if everything gets a treatment

along with oil/filter change and greasejob intervals. (5k mi or so.) Sticking gasket: Remove the gasket from its' sheet

metal, but do not unhook it from the bottom roller of the sliding door. Carefully wash the entire length of the gasket

and the mating surfaces of the sliding door with warm water with something gentle like diswashing liquid. (just enough

to make a soapy solution. Allow everything to dry, and treat the gasket with a product that is gentle

to foam rubber, ie; plain GOJO (no grit), Armor All, or silicone spray. Reinstall the gasket when done, and try the door.

If there is still a problem, then the rear middle bracket is not springing out forcefully enough, and there may be an alignment

problem or other worn parts as the cause.

Good hunting

Uncle Bob

[GMGuy]

I might add best thing to use on door seals to keep them fresh....Glycerin.....its what GM actually recommends in for use as well

[Coaster]

thanks. where do i get glycerin?

i have a more pressing issue right now in that the lower drivers door hinge is failed. i need to replace the door which is badly tweaked. hopefully this summer i can get to all these things

[Coaster]

i bought a lift strut and did some experimenting with the barn door. i got sick of the door hitting me when i unloaded. this project is in its infancy so bear with me, the video has the strut clamped inside the door and the clamp falls off at the end of the vid.

but IT WORKS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... a05dnH9zGI

[Lumpy]

i bought a lift strut and did some experimenting with the barn door. i got sick of the door hitting me when i unloaded. this project is in its infancy so bear with me, the video has the strut clamped inside the door and the clamp falls off at the end of the vid.

but IT WORKS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... a05dnH9zGI

Blobs of black with some blue stuff.


Lump

[Coaster]

worked on it some more today

i have more work to do but it works.

i may need to adjust where this ball pivot lives. seems like it needs to move away from the body about 1/2"



attached to the door frame



tried to get a better vid, but its not great. i like the door now!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... QhrBS9S5o8

[paulbot]

My back doors wore out some years ago, went to the dealer and bought a set of everything for the catches, both doors, for $117. Still working, too.

[The Drummer]

kleen slip from kleen-flo is very good on weatherstriping , prevents sticking and drying etc , works very good to keep from sticking under hailing and when it rains and then temp drops below zero ,i apply it a few times during the winter , and yep whomever designed the piece o crap thats suppose to keep them doors open deserves a good slap behind the head