Side Door Rail Broken
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
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Side Door Rail Broken
The side door on my 97 shorty isn't closing at the rear of the door. The front of the door seems to close fine. I looked at the rail / track for the rollers at the rear of the door, and the rail broke off near the flange at the end of that rail. I tried pounding the rail in, but it just sprung back out. Looks to me like I need a whole new rail. Two questions:
1. Where is the best place to get such a rail? I'd prefer a new one, I think, if it is going to be as much trouble as I think it is to replace it. (See question 2.)
2. It looks like there are several smooth, round, black, "rivet-like" things that hold the rail onto the van. I assume I will need to tear out the interior panels on that side of the van, and I hope I will find screws or bolts that screw into the back of those rivet like things. Is this correct?
Anything else I should know before I dive in?
1. Where is the best place to get such a rail? I'd prefer a new one, I think, if it is going to be as much trouble as I think it is to replace it. (See question 2.)
2. It looks like there are several smooth, round, black, "rivet-like" things that hold the rail onto the van. I assume I will need to tear out the interior panels on that side of the van, and I hope I will find screws or bolts that screw into the back of those rivet like things. Is this correct?
Anything else I should know before I dive in?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 758
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From: Northern PA
Don't get a new rail. Just drill a hole through the rail right near the end where the flange broke off, and use a small bolt and nut. I used one of those remote pickup tools to hold the nut on the inside while I screwed the bolt through, and it has held up for quite some time now. I can't even remember how many years it's been.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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I tried the drill method, and it didn't last for long. I ended up going to the junkyard and getting one there. Also, you can figure out how it attaches when you remove the old one at the boneyard. Now it works fine.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 758
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From: Northern PA
Originally Posted by Heavenword1
I'm not sure I know what a remote pickup tool is.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=73738&group_ID=1273 &store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
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FYI, the local dealer (stealer?) wants $109 for that track.
Any of the FTE sponsors sell it for less?
Any of the FTE sponsors sell it for less?
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 79
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Yes, you'll need to pull the interior panel, but it is not as hard as it seems. Like I said, you can see how it attaches/removes when you go to the junkyard. Where I go it is 'u pull it'. I think I paid $10 for it, and that included the lock mechinism.
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