Cabriolet body flex - how flexible.....is acceptable?

Hey all

God knows how i have not noticed this considering the amount i have had this car up and down the past few months but today I had it lifted up to fit some mudflaps and noticed the passenger door became misaligned every so slightly - when i opened it the door popped open and still closed although it was tight, on further inspection when down on all 4 wheels the passenger door sits roughly 1mm too low when sat normally and this increases to 3-4mm when its lifted on the passenger side front and or rear - drivers door does not move at all no matter where its lifted.

on checking some high res images from when i first got it, i can see the door was misaligned then as well - i have just never noticed.

I don't think it is, but is this normal for a 30+yr old cabriolet? i know they have a lot of flex but i would not think it would move that much.

it drives straight as an arrow, and i have not noticed any damage or cracks underneath, and there is no crash damage in its history for what that's worth

has anyone got any advice? or any reassurance its normal? (i don't think it is) - i am thinking to add a lower and upper strut brace, will this help do you think?

Thanks in advance  

The doors just probably dropped bud.

All my old cars doors don't open or close properly when jacked up on one side. 

Even on hatches the door eventually droops (not worn hinges, does the door waggle about if pulled up and down?), the trick back in the day was to open the door and use a trolly jack with a piece of wood on the rear corner to 'ease' the door back into postion….

https://clubgti.com/forums/index.php?threads/how-to-repair-and-replace-golf-mk2-door-hinges.276948/

Well on a Cabriolet or 4 that I have owned I have noticed some things that are normal and then somethings that aren't.

Door Sag is usually caused by folks using the door as a prop to enter and exit the car, Drivers side usually same more than the passengers side. Doors that are long and are supported on 2 points well 200 pounds of weight on the back of the door causes it to sag over time.

Jacking the car on one side will cause temporary mis-alignment and I have noticed that doors act funny.  

I don't have a K-bar or Belly brace on my Cabriolets, but I do have an upper strut-bar on them.

Fix the Sag, install a new door striker pin, and lube the latching mech and all should be good, just don't use the door as a prop to get in or out of the car.

Thanks for all the replies!

that reassures me that its nothing too major to worry about.

i have ordered a lower and upper brace anyway as the more i read the more i saw people commenting on how much it improved handling, especially the lower brace.

its looking like i am going to have to rest it up again for a week or two as i have a engine oil leak to investigate so i will take the door off and replace pins etc at the same time!

Thanks Again 

squideatingdough said

Thanks for all the replies!

that reassures me that its nothing too major to worry about.

i have ordered a lower and upper brace anyway as the more i read the more i saw people commenting on how much it improved handling, especially the lower brace.

its looking like i am going to have to rest it up again for a week or two as i have a engine oil leak to investigate so i will take the door off and replace pins etc at the same time!

Thanks Again 

Is there actual play in the hinges/pins if you waggle the door up and down or has it just 'sagged/drooped' on the A-pillar?