door position support broke - can be replaced?

[clydesdale]

The arm that holds the door open at the various 2 or 3 points broke. It was creaking and popping for a couple months and finally stopped making noise and no longer holds the door. I see bolts on the door where it goes in and where it attaches with a hinge. Is this an easily replaced and purchased item?

[nando]

yes, the whole thing can be removed. I replaced it with a used one like 10 years ago, it's been fine. keep it greased!

[rcsoundn1]

I would buy the reinforcement plates that a member on here makes as well. Its cheap insurance. IIRC they are called door checks.

[nando]

I don't think those are necessary. the door sheet metal doesn't fail, it's the arm that's part of the mechanism that fails.

[rcsoundn1]

Here is his FS thread for reference.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=258262

[rcsoundn1]

Mine failed, as they do for many, and tore the bolts through the door.

[ELVA164]

If you're talking about a loud "pop" sound when opening/closing the door, the fix is to spot weld the arm to the side of the hole it passes through.

[Chessmaster]

Mine failed, I now have a nice crease on my door when It flug back and hit the fender edge.

[clydesdale]

Ok, I'll find an old e30 and take one off. The bolts and the door look fine. The arm is not attached inside the door to whatever it used to be attached to. Does it still sound like I should just unbolt it and replace or is something else wrecked? The door seems to stop from opening too far still. Although, I have not flung it open to really test it. Thanks.

[clydesdale]

Elva, how can you spot weld the arm to the side of the door. Won't that restrict the movement?

[ELVA164]

You spot weld on the top and/or bottom. The arm can still pivot and move in and out of the door.

[nando]

Ok, I'll find an old e30 and take one off. The bolts and the door look fine. The arm is not attached inside the door to whatever it used to be attached to. Does it still sound like I should just unbolt it and replace or is something else wrecked? The door seems to stop from opening too far still. Although, I have not flung it open to really test it. Thanks.

unbolt and replace. no reason to spot weld it. you can remove the inner piece, you have to pull off the door lining though. you install the new one from inside the door, and hook the pin to the body.

here's what mine did:

[McGyver]

well damn, it's that easy? i hate living with car issues because i'm too lazy to fix them, and then it only takes a few minutes to fix it. I guess i'm adding this to the list of weekend activities.

[ELVA164]

unbolt and replace. no reason to spot weld it. you can remove the inner piece, you have to pull off the door lining though. you install the new one from inside the door, and hook the pin to the body.

I'm talking about the part that goes into the car itself, behind the kick panel.