I had the problem in my '88 van. I learned there was a new lock better
designed and after fussing with the original I opted for the newer one.
Never any trouble since. I think it came from Van Cafe.

On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 4:43 PM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:

> sorry... I forgot to mention this...
> When the pin is higher another pitfall is the misalignment of the rear of
> the door with the body panel.
>
> On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 2:31 PM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > *"Are there any pitfalls in setting the pin higher and more inward than
> > specification(if there is one)."*
> >
> > When the pin is higher and more inward, the only pitfall (if the pin and
> > the locking mechanism are in good condition or new) - it's a bit harder
> for
> > the sliding door to get out and sliding door back to the left.
> > Moving the higher and more inward is to catch up with the wear and tear
> of
> > the pin and the locking mechanism until you need new ones.
> >
> > On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 2:21 PM John Lauterbach <john@jhl.mgacoxmail.com
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Thank you, Dan and Doug.  I had already marked correct position so that
> >> is how I knew
> >> that the locking pin had slipped down and to the outside of the van.
> >>
> >> What does Bentley says about the torque-wrench setting for tightening
> the
> >> locking
> >> pin?
> >>
> >> Are there any pitfalls in setting the pin higher and more inward than
> >> specification
> >> (if there is one).
> >>
> >> John
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM>
> >> Reply-To: Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM>
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Re: How to adjust position of Sliding Door Rear Locking Pin
> >> Date: 02/12/2023 02:38:25 PM
> >>
> >> One way to do this...
> >> - loosening the pin enough so it can move, but no to much.
> >> - one person stays inside with a thin Sharpie marker
> >> - from outside another closes the sliding and pushes the left (or the
> >> back)
> >> of the door till it's flush with the body.
> >> - the person inside lifts the piece of rubber (if there's one) and
> traces
> >> the contour of the pin with the marker.
> >> - open the door, reposition the pin according to the tracing of the pin,
> >> tighten it.
> >> (note: yes .. the locking mechanism could be worn, or the pin is worn
> too
> >> ot the pin can move by itself a bit.)
> >>
> >> On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 8:03 AM John Lauterbach <
> john@jhl.mgacoxmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > My '91 Subie Vanagon continues to provide almost flawless performance
> on
> >> > my weekly
> >> > round trips from my FL home to my GA home back.  On my most recent
> trip
> >> > back from GA,
> >> > the latch on the rear of the sliding door came off the locking pin.
> The
> >> > door did not
> >> > open while I was driving, but the rear end of the door had moved out
> >> from
> >> > the body.
> >> >  I had this problem some years back, but I had a body shop take care
> of
> >> > the problem
> >> > when the shop installed the GoWesty plate steel bumpers.
> >> >
> >> > It looks like the locking pin has moved down and to the outside with
> >> > respect to the
> >> > correct position by about 1/16 of an inch.  I loosened the pin with a
> 15
> >> > mm open end
> >> > wrench, and moved it back to what appeared to be the previous
> position,
> >> > and re-
> >> > tightened the pin.  I have not driven the van enough to make sure I
> have
> >> > pin in right
> >> > position.
> >> >
> >> > What is correct method for making sure the locking pin is positioned
> >> > correctly.
> >> >
> >> > Thank you,
> >> >
> >> > John
> >> >
> >>
> >
>