so the front latch is ok? the stamped metal  hook thing.

the rear striker/latch is very much like a front door latch, pin and
capture. if as you say, the latch is not clamping down fast enough to
hold pin, then I think cleaning and re lubricating is in order.

as ref point, my 86 door works like a dream. opens nicely, very
smooth handle feel, and closes like a charm. one of the best features
of '86 and up vans is, IMHO, the sliding door latch.

alistair

On 20-Jun-10, at 5:29 PM, David Beierl wrote:

At 06:40 PM 6/20/2010, Alistair Bell wrote:
> which latch wonky?

86+ only have one latch, on the rear.  There's a capture device in
front to keep the door from bursting open when the grenade goes off
inside, but the two parts of it have never touched each other.

> do you see any wear in the contact surfaces?

Minor wear on the pin.

> is there any foreign material in tracks?

Not particularly.

What it likes is to be closed from about eight inches or a foot open,
and the handle pulled forward firmly as it latches.  Alternatively
ready to close and a firm push forward/in at the latch point.

Yours,
d