82ndpara

Any of you ever have this issue? I've tried shutting the door firmly, lubing up the visible part of the locking mechanism and performing a test of the mechanism by pushing the locking lugs manually and releasing them with the door latch button: no dice. The door still rattles like it's not locked in all the way.
Any ideas?

82ndpara

Steve83

This shows & describes the most-common symptom:


(phone app link)

But the CAUSE is wear in the hinges. Read the PREVious few captions, and the NEXT several. For more info, read all the captions in that album, and follow the relevant links.

82ndpara

Thank you for the link, there's some very helpful stuff there. I should have mentioned the truck only has 56k miles on it, so there's not a lot of wear on much of the mechanical parts..... she's got some rust on the body though from being outside for 20 years....

Thanks again,
82ndpara

Steve83

IDK how you can be sure of that mileage; especially if you've only had it for 20 years. With only 5 digits in the odometer, mine showed 18Kmi when it had 418Kmi.

82ndpara

Yeah, it's hard to explain to the service techs when I take it but my grandfather bought it new, drove it for four years before he died in '87 then my grand uncle put it in the barn for 14 years before giving it to me. It then became a "weekends only" trip to the dump or home depot truck and never really racked up any miles. The past two years it sat in my driveway with carburetor and bake issues so it didn't get used at all while I messed around with it. Also, I think it has closer to 68k miles; the 56k I mentioned before is one of my Harleys I'm still working on....
I just got it back from the shop, most issues resolved, now this door rattling thing....

(see original posting: https://www.f150forum.com/f3/fng-western-mass-375398/ )

Don

burnthelight88

Weatherstripping is probably really old. Replacing that may stop some rattles.

82ndpara

You know, I got to looking at the weather stripping the other day, and even though it's not torn and looks good, it's still squashed down and shrunken a little. Would the rigidness of new weather strip have the strength to push the door tight when closed?
Also, who might sell the weather stripping these days?
Don

burnthelight88

New weatherstripping on a truck this old typically makes the door shutting process rather tight - which usually eliminates all rattle. I've done it myself on a 79, although my rattles were accompanied by wind noise at cruising speed and new weatherstripping eliminated both. RockAuto, LMC, Dennis carpenter, Bronco Graveyard, MAC, all have weatherstripping kits.

82ndpara

Thank you very much for the leads on the weatherstripping, I'll be ordering up some ASAP!
Don

Steve83

If you read all the captions in that photo album, you'll find how to easily, quickly, & inexpensively repair the door seals.