Audi door hinge adjustment

[KimB]

Hello all, so my new car I noticed the passenger and drivers door are just dropper very slightly. Passenger side is what I need to adjust though.

I’ve read and seen many things online. A lot of what I have read was talking about an adjustment tool. Apparently Audi sell them as an actual tool. When I looked online what I found was something that looked like this coming up.

could I just use a stilson with the teeth covered up to tweak it?
here’s the hinges on my drivers door to show what they look like

Thanks

 

[arther dailey]

? really Kim ! you have a welder I am sure you could make one of those in a trice

 

[sako243]

Even a Defender's door adjustment is more precise than that!

 

[James1979]

How is that even a special tool!!! Ffs! I should knock a few out

Either a stillson with teeth covered or a length of thick flat bar with a slot cut near the end at 90 deg to long edge if that makes sense.

I can’t believe that’s the official method

 

[Blobber]

German engineering at its finest?!!

 

[KimB]

? really Kim ! you have a welder I am sure you could make one of those in a trice

I’m not going to buy one. Just wondering if anyone has experience adjusting them.

 

[James1979]

There is probably a course to operate that if you work at audi…..

 

[500e]

Open door the minimum to put a block of wood along the base of door on a jack, pump up till door fits, easy to jack up to much jack up to much.

 

[rtcosic]

Open door the minimum to put a block of wood along the base of door on a jack, pump up till door fits, easy to jack up to much jack up to much.

Careful with that technique, depending on the detailed design of the door it can twist the door as well as bend the hinge.

Fabricating a tool like the OEM's bending tool is a much better plan. It's not an uncommon method for 'fine adjustment' these days as most hinges are welded on in jigs so no adjustment by using bolts. Accurately placed bending is common. For real medieval methods look at the very German hammers used for 'percussive adjustment' of panel fit on the Porsche assembly line.

I was surprised to learn of the Body in White tolerances on modern cars. Naively I assumed given modern CAD/CAM and robotics these tolerances would be microns. Apparently, the BiW can vary by 1mm (+/- 0.5mm) in overall width and 2mm in length and still be in specification. Actual BiW rarely gets that bad, although compounding tolerances can result in things such as lights and exterior trim not quite fitting and needing 'adjustment' on the line.

 

[pedrobedro]

You most likely don't need to do anything to the hinges unless the car has been in an accident, it's the striker that needs adjusting.

 

[KimB]

definitely the door dropped slightly. Not a lot 5mm maybe. I’ll have a look at it tomorrow.
Also I tried the block under the door, didn’t move it. I didn’t want to risk the jack slipping and wedging under the door itself. I’m clumsy like that

 

[mike os]

Are the pivot pins worn ?

 

[pedrobedro]

definitely the door dropped slightly. Not a lot 5mm maybe. I’ll have a look at it tomorrow.
Also I tried the block under the door, didn’t move it. I didn’t want to risk the jack slipping and wedging under the door itself. I’m clumsy like that

I had one in a crashed Mini where I had to slot the bolt holes in the top hinge to get it back to where it would close.

 

[T5FAU]

My mk4 golf did this and the hinge looks the same (well it will be as VAG). It was a common fault due to the weight of the door bent the hinges over time. I fixed mine by making and inserting a shim made from some ally sheet into the bottom hinge, to space and re-align the back of the door up. Dont jack up the door.

 

[anto44]

Common to see the pins worn in those hinges, I have to replace them on a regular basis because of them dropping

 

[KimB]

Are the pivot pins worn ?

Nope. Well no play at all.

My mk4 golf did this and the hinge looks the same (well it will be as VAG). It was a common fault due to the weight of the door bent the hinges over time. I fixed mine by making and inserting a shim made from some ally sheet into the bottom hinge, to space and re-align the back of the door up. Dont jack up the door.

I might just do that actually. I think I have some Ali.

 

[KimB]

Common to see the pins worn in those hinges, I have to replace them on a regular basis because of them dropping

Do they have up and down play in them? Mine seems to have no play at all but it’s just a bit dropped

 

[Edward Teach]

A block of wood placed in the right position near the offending hinge,
Close the door onto the piece of wood, and lightly work/close the door,
It will adjust the hinge mount on the B post, and on the door.

 

[colnerov]

Open door the minimum to put a block of wood along the base of door on a jack, pump up till door fits, easy to jack up to much jack up to much.

Hi, My only variation to that method is to hold the bottom of the door with my hands and lift, but I am a big chap. So Kim may have to use all her strengthes or find someone else.

Colin

 

[anto44]

Do they have up and down play in them? Mine seems to have no play at all but it’s just a bit dropped

The amount of play they need to be down 5mm on the lock side of the door is tiny.