Door latch malfunction

[CoyoteCobra]

Today I noticed my drivers door would not open. The lever moved with the usual resistance but the latch wouldn't pop. After fiddling with it for a while I finally got it to open. Upon popping the chrome cover off to inspect it I found that the arm where it attaches to the square hub that actuates the striker/release is slipping off the hub and not engaging.

If I press and hold the arm onto the square hub piece it functions fine but otherwise it keeps popping off. I was considering taking it off and through-bolting it with a nylon washer to have some preload and hold the arm onto the hub piece, but that seems like it would try to bind up.

Anyone else run into this or have a tip on how to make the arm stay put on the hub?


EDIT: Well it seems I am far from alone on this. I read this guy's fix, which seems to be similar to what I was thinking of. Anyone else do something like this?

This: http://www.linger.com/cobra/DoorLatchRepair.htm

[Karl Bebout]

I did this exact fix several years ago and it's held up just fine. In fact, I made a spare so I'm ready when the passenger side goes. Suppose I should just go ahead and install the "fix" to be pro-active.

[CoyoteCobra]

Ok great thanks

[bobcowan]

Using that exact write up, I did "The Fix" during the initial build in 2004'ish. Those latches lasted 12 years without so much as an adjustment.

[jkilstrom]

Hi Coyotecobra

Same thing happened to my latches. Didn't find the fix on line like you did at the time. I did the same but used an elevator bolt with a thin elastic lock nut and washers. The elevator bolt is flat and has the same square as a carriage bolt.

Good luck John

[Imlumpy]

Mine did the same , I found original mgtf latches on eBay . They seem to be made a little more robust as compared to the aftermarket units .