RAM 2500 Van V8-5.9L VIN Z (1997)
14.
Push the front edge of the hinge bracket upward to the maximum up-position (Figure 12). Lightly tighten the bracket front screw.
15.
Pull down on the hinge swing-arm (Figure 13). Tighten the hinge bracket screws to 41 Nm (30 ft. lbs.) of torque.
16.
Loosen the rear striker screws and install or remove spacers (p/n 55346527) (Figure 8) until the striker is in the center of the latch (Figure 1).
Then, move the striker in or out until the rear of the door is flush with the C-pillar. Tighten the screws to 23 Nm (200 in. lbs.) of torque.
NOTE:
MAKE SURE THAT THE STRIKER IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE C-PILLAR AND IS NOT TILTED.
17.
Repeat steps 2 through 16 until the sliding door properly fits fore/aft, up/down, and in/out for both the front and rear of the door.
18.
Remove the plug for accessing the front latch striker attaching nut from the forward side of the B-Pillar.
19.
Loosen the nut and screw that attaches the front latch striker to the B-Pillar (Figure 9).
20.
Adjust the front latch striker to a position where the stabilizer pin will not contact the striker when closing the door but will center into the striker
with the door fully closed. Tighten the inner striker nut to 22 Nm (200 in. lbs.) of torque and the upper striker screw to 11 Nm (95 in. lbs.) of
torque.
21.
Install the B-Pillar plug.
22.
Adjust the stabilizer pin so that pin fits snug into the front striker latch grommet with the door closed. A small amount of grease can be applied to
the end of the stabilizer pin to help identify when the pin contacts the grommet. Adjust the pin out until witness marks appear on the front striker
grommet then, tighten the lock nut on the pin.
23.
Apply a thin coat of weatherstrip lubricant (p/n 04773427) to the sliding door weatherstrip.
24.
Open and close the sliding door to verify the repair.
25.
If the door is still difficult to close, adjust the sliding door closed-position locking catch/striker. Refer to the 1997 Ram Van/Wagon Service
Manual (Publication No. 81-370-7107), page 23-70, for information regarding adjustment of the sliding door closed-position locking catch/striker.
