Body Shop question. Fixing a bent door

[jwsia]

I bought this abused 2005 XLE Camry a few weeks ago and I am in the process of cleaning it up. I put on a new bumper cover and headlights, new valve cover gasket,cleaned off all the hippy bumper stickers and I'm about half done cleaning the interior (cig butts, shake and lots of nasty sticky stuff)

Anyway onto the problem. It looks like someone pulled the top of the drivers door out to get into it. DOesnt look like it was done by a locksmith with all the paint chipping. The main body of the door fits just right its just the top that is pulled out about 3/16 " at the top. How should I go about bending this back?? Im sure there are a few guys out there who have ran into this. Not interested in a new door, I want to be under 1500 in this car when I'm done...it will be my new beater

Thanks in advance guys

 

[jagwinn]

Hello jwsia,
I worked on the assembly line at Mitsubishi Motors in Normal, Illinois....when a door hung out at the top, the line fitter would place a rubber mallet between door and jam at the joint of the window frame and door and press the top in with his hand.

Did like procedure to get the hood to line up.

jagwinn
UAW 2488

 

[DTE]

You should be able to pull that back in by hand, roll the window down and have at it.

 

[jwsia]

THats what I was thinking, rolled down window and push. If there are any other pointers out there let me know

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I've adjusted hundreds of doors and the simple way is to open the door, put your knee high up on the inside of the door panel and simultaneously pull the top of the door frame towards your chest.. When you hear some crackling sounds you've moved it

 

[toolenthusiast]

I've adjusted hundreds of doors and the simple way is to open the door, put your knee high up on the inside of the door panel and simultaneously pull the top of the door frame towards your chest.. When you hear some crackling sounds you've moved it

This is exactly correct. Username checks out, too!

 

[jwsia]

I did exactly that the other day. Fits just right now. Wont be able to do much on it now till after the holidays. Merry Christmas

 

[AndypCT]

that is exactly how I have done it. Roll the widow down and pull back

 

[toplessHO]

Ive laid across the seat,looped an old seat belt across the top, put feet on the top of door panel and pulled.Its hard to pull too much,can usually tell when its right because it will stop moving.

 

[finn]

A 2x4 in the door jamb and push on the top of the door.

That was standard assembly line procedure when I first toured an automobile assembly line as a kid in the early sixties.

 

[TwoInch]

A 2x4 in the door jamb and push on the top of the door.

That was standard assembly line procedure when I first toured an automobile assembly line as a kid in the early sixties.

This, and what NYbodyman said.

Adjust placement of 2x4 in jam to adjust exactly where you are placing force.

Standard practice in my experience.

Sent from my LGLS676 using Tapatalk

 

[Larryjones]

As well as the bending mentioned, can you adjust the latch to pull the door tighter?

 

[NYBODYMAN]

As well as the bending mentioned, can you adjust the latch to pull the door tighter?

You can but this will just pull the entire door in and not only the top as he needs to. Also, if you pull the door in too much at the latch/striker, it may not close properly ie: it will need to be slammed in order to be latched because the striker is too far from the latch. Also when this happens, the door will "pop" when you try to open it.