Lower quad cab door latch

[Flinty]

This is for all you poor buggers like me that have a seized lower latch on the quad cab door. I just picked up a '98 and the left rear door would not open. After making sure that the latch was in fact rusted closed I pried the panel off as far as I could with out breaking it and removed the square plastic pressure equalizer with the rubber flaps on it.

I hosed it with penetrating oil, beat on it, slipped a pipe over the latch arm and bent the crap out of it, all to no avail. Finally I figured out that you can get a dremel tool down in there and cut the thing pretty close to flush with the bottom of the door. Then slowly pry the door up and over whats left sticking up. Make sure to rip the little spring-slide thing off so you can manipulate the door up and down with out the latch being jammed up against the bottom of the door - making it impossible to get the door up and over. Once the door is open you can break the plastic off and put a punch on the latch to get it to release. I have attached a pic. of the offending latch after my hatchet job. Word to the wise - if you're thinking of buying a truck with a seized latch scrape $500 off the price to cover parts and your own labor; this job SUCKED!

 

[Silver Ratler]

I'm heading out right now to make sure the latches on my '01 are lubed up!!

 

[Joe Mc]

I'm heading out right now to make sure the latches on my '01 are lubed up!!

I have a 99 and always make sure those buggers at lubricated with spray grease and then WD on top of it then a few days later more spray grease. Hummm, when was the last time I did that? Did I notice the driver side back door kind of not wanting to open as easily as I remembered???



D'oh! Thanks for sharing this with us. I know what I'm doing tomorrow.....

 

[Flinty]

New latch finally came.

 

[Joe Mc]

Ooooo shiney.....

 

[Excessive Force]

New latch finally came.

Where is a good source for these ?

 

[Bob4x4]

I had a svc mgr once that came up with what he called a super lube pkg on top of the normal lof.
It consisted of lubing all the latches and hinges and wiping down all the weather strips with silicone.For the people that plan on keeping their rig for a lifetime and we’re not the diy type it made sense

 

[DVolk]

Are these bottom latches supposed to move , I have one that is rusted my passenger side . The drivers side bottom latch moves but the bolts are tight are they supposed to do this I greased both the top and bottom latch up . any ideas ?