I need your advice on my 55 door latch.
The drivers door will not latch correctly. It seems the star wheel has a lot of free play in it compaired to the other side. The other side closes great. You can just push it in and two clicks and done. The drivers side you have to make sure the wheel is turned right and slam the @#&* out of it.
My question is do you think replacing the original latch will cure this or should I bite the bullet again and change to the Bear Claw style.
I have heard that the original, even new would let the door come open if the truck got in a twist. I don't plan on using the truck in such a way that that should happen but I don't know how bad they were.
Thanks

 

I replaced the latchs on my '56 and they have worked fine for the last 8 years. Bear Claws are nice but a lot of work to get there.

 

Aftermarket bear claw latches have problems of their own. For starters, they have no locking provision like a factory latch. Try replacing the original latch and see how it works. If you still don't like it, you can always do the major surgery required to install something different, later. Personally, if you're happy with the right side, a new latch in the left should make it work just fine.

 

Thanks guys. That is good news for me. Alot cheaper and easier this way.

 

try adjusting the latch, on the post, downward and maybe in a little and see where that brings you

 

I have adjusted it every where. It looks like the star doesn't rotate enough to line up correctly. you can turn it by hand and get it to latch most of the time.

 

Put new star latches in (the stock ones), you'll be happy with them. The Bear Claw's are nice, but are ALOT of trouble to install and in my experience the stock ones are pretty good once you get them adjusted. I've had mine on for 15 years now and they are doin fine.

 

I did all new latchs in my 53 and still had tons of headaches. They are a design flaw from the factory and thats why in 56 they changed. I was told you could bolt in 56 latches if you get all new latches and door strikers from a 56. Never tried it but I have been told its a good upgrade from a few people.

I did the altman ez latch kit from mid fifty and its a great upgrade and I would go that way again in a heartbeat. With all new factory door latches your almost at the altman kit. The downside is I can not lock my truck at the moment so I left my door handles off so you have to know to stick your finger in the door hole to pop the door open. Not the most secure but been like that for about 6 months with no issues.

 

if you want bear claws that lock you can get them from rocky hinge, i`ve purchased their medium size bear claw latch with the shaved door actuator,the lock system would probably take a bit of fabrication, you can also look at trique manufauturing`s site, for bolt in bear claws.

 

I did weld in bear claws on mine, they were the lockable style. I removed the lock lever arm..

sam

 

If you have a you-pull yard nearby, virtually all vehicles today use the bearclaw style latches just pull the strikers and latches from any vehicle. If you pick a high end model you can probably get the electric lock solenoids as well. I'd grab the linkage rods and connectors too.

 

That is a great idea, one I've had for years. I can't say about the 53-56's, but I've yet to find the modern door with a narrow enough latch to fit in the skinny 48-52 door.

 

here`s the medium bear claw latch i`m using for my doors , i shaved my door handles so i don`t really need a lock but when i did talk to them they said the locables one are just a shade bigger. i`m not quite finished my instrallation but just to let you know one thing,there is not mutch room between the inside of the door and the window chanel, i can use my original inside door handle mechanisms by lengthening the rod 1/2 an inch and turning the spring mechanism facing down (three holes holding the mechanism, you dont use the top hole,flip the mechanism down and re-drill the mounting hole) this way the linkage pulls instead of pushing thus opening your bear claw, the kit came with 2 locks, actuators and remote keyless entry system for $200 bucks, from rocky hinge.