MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Technical Workshop => Topic started by: pudding on September 19, 2017, 10:24:12 am

Title: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: pudding on September 19, 2017, 10:24:12 am
My driver's door has started to feel a bit 'grindy' on the latch when closing.  Compared to the passenger side, I can see the door lock is hitting the striker a few mm lower, so it's time to adjust the hinge(s).   I spent a day searching yesterday and couldn't find anything that drills down to the specifics.

I know this was a common issue on the MK4 as well, and I think the bodyshop 'fix' was to simply jack the door up to bend things back into line again..... but I'm hoping there is a more elegant solution on the MK5?  There doesn't appear to be any eccentric hinge pins or anything to adjust?

Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: MPS on September 19, 2017, 11:00:09 am
http://workshop-manuals.com/volkswagen/golf-mk5/body/general_body_repairs_exterior/front_door_central_locking/front_door/adjusting_door/adjusting_door_gaps/

http://workshop-manuals.com/volkswagen/golf-mk5/body/general_body_repairs_exterior/front_door_central_locking/front_door/adjusting_door/adjusting_door_fittings_for_flushness/

 :happy2:
Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: pudding on September 19, 2017, 11:31:05 am
Aha, thanks mate  :happy2:

I did find the first link yesterday, but I skim read the note about "1.2004......" models and misread it as only >2004 models had the adjuster, lol!

I'm guessing bolt 5 is a triple square?
Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: pudding on September 20, 2017, 09:17:20 am
Tried the procedure linked above last night but neither of the eccentric pins turn without feeling like the nut is going to round off.   

I think either the pins are seized or the weight needs taking off the hinge before trying to turn them.  Can anyone confirm?

Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: pudding on September 20, 2017, 06:24:28 pm
OK figured it out.

Here are the instructions:-

1) Fully open the door and then loosen (but do not remove) this bolt (M8 spline)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4438/37349725625_3f1dfd7efd_b.jpg)

2) Now half close the door (2 detents on the lower hinge), drop the window and get a firm hold of the window frame by the corner.   Whilst firmly lifting the door the full arc, fully open it again.  It's important you maintain the firm lift whilst opening, otherwise it won't adjust. Nip up the M8 bolt and check the alignment.  Rinse and repeat.

The objective is to get this nub to turn more to the right which lifts the door, and when it moves to the left, it lowers the door.  Factory default position is as pictured.  Mine needed moving round a good few mm.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4350/36952382980_e8bfd08243_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: lennshow66 on February 13, 2018, 01:03:53 pm
Sorry to bump the thread.

Did you need a special tool to adjust the nib?
Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: pudding on February 16, 2018, 09:54:19 am
Nope.  The action of lifting the door (to unload the hinge) whilst opening it is what adjusts the little nub thing.  I don't know the technical term for it!

The nub does look like something you could lever on to turn, but trust me, that won't work.  It is merely a pointer to visualize how far it's been adjusted.

Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: Mk5golfgttdi04 on January 19, 2019, 11:58:41 pm
Created an account nust for this thread, Just wanted to leave a comment here to thank everyone for contributing, pudding I used your images to solve my problem, absolutely fantastic.

To help with Google search I tried:

Mk5 golf door adjustment
Mk5 golf driver door adjustment

Hopefully many find this as helpful as I did

Pd Imageslike above are what all "How to" on forums should  have, well done 👌
Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: pudding on January 26, 2019, 04:35:00 pm
I also failed to find the exact information, hence passing it on  :happy2:

FWIW, I tried the official VW method below but even that was vague.  Bookmark that site as it's very useful for all sorts of jobs. https://workshop-manuals.com/volkswagen/golf-mk5

https://workshop-manuals.com/volkswagen/golf-mk5/body/general_body_repairs_exterior/front_door_central_locking/front_door/adjusting_door/adjusting_door_gaps/
Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: Robsmib on May 15, 2019, 06:46:47 pm
Hi,

The gap around my drivers door is 1mm at the bottom and 6mm at the top of the front of the door when shut. Will this correct this? Or is this adjustment something else entirely?

Many Thanks

Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: pudding on May 17, 2019, 05:53:00 pm
Got a pic of the panel gaps?  If you can feel the door drop when you pull on the handle, and it feels like it's dragging on the latch when closing, it needs lifting up a bit.  The door should unlatch and latch smoothly.
Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: Robsmib on May 17, 2019, 07:24:10 pm
Will do soon, no the door doesn't catch, just seems very close to the sill and lets in a drop of water when it rains! And the panel gap looks awful. To be honest only noticed just how bad it is after reading your thread.

Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: pudding on May 25, 2019, 11:53:19 am
If the panel gap is lower at the handle end compared to the hinge end, defo needs raising.  Try adjusting the latch first.  It can move up, down, in and out approx 5mm.  If that fixes the panel gap but the door close feels notchy, you need to raise the hinge as above  :happy2:
Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: ClaireSuther on October 19, 2020, 01:11:22 am
it is not good at alll
Title: Re: Front door droop (3 door)
Post by: Stuey10182 on March 21, 2022, 06:47:25 pm
Created an account nust for this thread, Just wanted to leave a comment here to thank everyone for contributing, pudding I used your images to solve my problem, absolutely fantastic.

To help with Google search I tried:

Mk5 golf door adjustment
Mk5 golf driver door adjustment

Hopefully many find this as helpful as I did

Pd Imageslike above are what all "How to" on forums should  have, well done 👌

Agreed, I need to do this now. Can you confirm the correct size Allen key socket you used, 6 seemed a little loose and I didn’t want to round it off?
 Cheesr