LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone
Home >> Ford >> 2007 >> Freestar SEL >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Body & Frame >> Exterior Body Panels >> Body Panel System - Body Closures >> General Procedures >> Sliding Door Alignment

Sliding Door Alignment

CAUTION: For correct sliding door operation, it is critical that the door adjuster wedge and striker on the body pillar fit smoothly into the wedge pocket and latch in the power sliding door. If any of the following adjustments are made, realignment of the striker may be necessary.
NOTE: Never use a wedge to adjust or fit the sliding door. Using a wedge to force the door to move will cause the wedges to squeak and eventually break. It will also cause a power sliding door to reverse prior to full closure or not close completely.
NOTE: Never use the strikers to adjust the door. It will cause a rattle or affect door opening or closing efforts.
    NOTE: Flushness is the inset or outset alignment of the panels to each other.
  1. Measure the door flushness.
    • Inspect the sliding door.
    • Measure the door flushness according to the following specifications:
      SLIDING DOOR FLUSHNESS SPECIFICATIONS

      Item Location Flushness
      1 Front Door to Fender -2.0 to 2.0 mm
      (-0.079 to 0.079 in)
      2 Sliding Door to Front Door -2.0 to 2.0 mm
      (-0.079 to 0.079 in)
      3 Manual Sliding Door to Quarter Panel -3.0 to 3.0 mm
      (-0.118 to 0.118 in)
      4 Power Sliding Door to Quarter Panel -3.0 to 3.0 mm
      (-0.118 to 0.118 in)
    2. Fig 1: Identifying Door Flushness Points
    GF0032508Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    NOTE: If the upper and lower wedges are not loosened, it will pull the sliding door into the same position the door was in before the adjustment. The wedges should be loosened enough to move, but not so loose that they cannot hold their position when moved.
  2. Loosen the screws.
    3. Fig 2: Locating Wedge Screws
    GF0032509Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    NOTE: The B-pillar wire striker should be centered in the catch assembly opening. Do not use the B-pillar wire striker to position the door.
  3. Inspect the alignment of the B-pillar wire striker in the catch. If the striker is not centered, proceed as follows:
    • Mark the edges of the striker.
    • Slightly loosen the bolts.
    • Tap the striker into the correct position.
    • Tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).
    4. Fig 3: Locating B-Pillar Wire Striker Bolts
    GF0032510Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    NOTE: The C-pillar striker should be centered in the latch assembly opening. Do not use the C-pillar striker to position the door in an up or down direction.
  4. Inspect the alignment of the C-pillar with striker in the latch. If striker is not centered, proceed as follows:
    • Mark the edges of the striker.
    • Slightly loosen the bolts.
    • Tap the striker into the correct position.
    • Tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).
    5. Fig 4: Locating C-Pillar Striker Bolts
    GF0032511Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    NOTE: The vehicle may be equipped with either an M6 or M8 size bolt at this location.
  5. If the lower front portion of the sliding door does not meet the sliding door to front door flushness specification, proceed as follows:
    • Loosen the lower roller bolt.
    • Move the bracket until the lower portion of the sliding door is flush with the lower portion of the front door.
    • Tighten the M6 size lower roller bolt to 12 Nm (9 lb-ft) or the M8 size bolt to 20 Nm (15 lb-ft).
    6. Fig 5: Locating Lower Roller Bolt
    GF0032512Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  6. If the upper front portion of the sliding door does not meet the sliding door to front door flushness specification or if the sliding door to quarter panel does not meet specification, proceed as follows:
    • Mark the forward and rearward edges of the bracket.
    • Loosen the upper roller nuts.
    • Move the sliding door to gain flushness specification.
    • Tighten to 14 Nm (10 lb-ft).
    7. Fig 6: Locating Upper Roller Nuts
    GF0032513Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  7. The B-pillar and C-pillar wire strikers should be centered after Steps 5 and 6 are completed. For further adjustment, refer to Steps 3 and 4.
    8. NOTE: The margin is the gap between 2 adjoining panels.
  8. Inspect the sliding door. Measure the margins of the sliding door according to the following specifications:
    SLIDING DOOR MARGIN SPECIFICATIONS

    Item Description Measurement
    1 Sliding Door to Roof 3.0 - 7.0 mm
    (0.118 - 0.276 in)
    2 Sliding Door to Quarter Panel 3.0 - 7.0 mm
    (0.118 - 0.276 in)
    3 Sliding Door to Front Door 4.0 - 8.0 mm
    (0.157 - 0.315 in)
    4 Sliding Door to Rocker Panel 4.0 - 6.0 mm
    (0.157 - 0.236 in)
    5 Front Door to Rocker Panel 4.0 - 6.0 mm
    (0.157 - 0.236 in)
    6 Front Door to Fender 3.0 - 6.0 mm
    (0.118 - 0.236 in)
    7 Front Door to A-Pillar 4.0 - 6.0 mm
    (0.157 - 0.236 in)
    8 Front Door to Roof 3.0 - 7.0 mm
    (0.118 - 0.276 in)
    9. Fig 7: Identifying Sliding Door Margin Points
    GF0032514Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  9. If the sliding door to front door margin does not meet specifications or if the door requires horizontal or vertical adjustment, adjust the lower roller bracket as follows:
    1. Mark the door around the lower roller bracket to measure the adjustment increments.
      2. NOTE: The lower roller bracket and guide assembly bolts should be loosened enough to allow the assembly to move, but not so loose that the assembly cannot hold its position when moved.
    2. Loosen the lower roller bolts.
    3. Use a nylon hammer to adjust the hinge up or down. Make sure that the front door margin is equal and within specification at the top and bottom.
    4. Close the sliding door and check for correct fit. Readjust if necessary.
    5. Tighten to 20 Nm (15 lb-ft).
    10. Fig 8: Locating Lower Roller Bolts
    GF0032515Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  10. If the sliding door to quarter panel does not meet specifications or if the door requires horizontal or vertical adjustment, adjust the sliding door center roller hinge as follows:
    1. Remove the center roller hinge nut.
    2. Lift the rear of the door to separate the center roller hinge bracket from the center roller hinge mount bracket.
      3. CAUTION: Do not swing the door open more than 25 degrees or damage to the sliding door harness chain assembly or other hinges may occur.
    3. Swing the door open and support if necessary.
    4. Mark the edges of the center roller hinge mount bracket.
    5. Slightly loosen the bolts.
    6. Reattach the center roller hinge bracket.
    7. Tap the center roller hinge into the correct position.
    8. Separate the center roller hinge bracket from the center roller hinge mount bracket and tighten the bolts.
    9. Reattach the center roller hinge bracket to the center roller hinge mount bracket.
    10. Install the nut.
    11. Close the door and check the alignment.
    11. Fig 9: Locating Center Roller Hinge Nut
    GF0032516Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    NOTE: The B-pillar and C-pillar wire strikers should be centered after Steps 9 and 10. For further adjustments, refer to Steps 3 and 4.
    NOTE: Make sure the screws are loosened.
  11. Adjust the upper and lower wedges.
    1. Close the sliding door.
    2. Open the sliding door.
    3. Check for correct male-to-female wedge alignment.
    4. Gently tap the male wedge into place if necessary.
    5. Tighten to 7 Nm (62 lb-in).
    12. Fig 10: Locating Wedge Screws
    GF0032517Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
scientia non olet · About LEMON Manuals