Doors rising up at 79mph ish

[Bumble]

On a continental trip last summer, the doors on my s3 started to rise up out of the hinges above around 79mph, the top ones even when the straps were all done up. This resulted in some panicked octopus moments pulling over and holding everything together.

I was surprised, as I thought the heat (30 degrees+) would have made the brass fittings expand rather than contract

The issue was solved using some twisted wire around the hinges in a figure of 8 pattern, and are still on there now (albeit an ugly fix).

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon at all, or is it just my car with these characteristics?

 

Matt

[Paul Richards]

Not experienced such a problem and not aware that anyone else has. You could replace one of the brass fittings with a long bolt and nut, but this would make it a little slower to remove the doors if you needed to.

[SM25T]

Pins on my SV are very long .... there are versions where it protrudes through the hinge with a threaded section that you can put a nyloc nut on. There was a thread on this subject a few months ago.

[Gloucestershire AR]

Actually had a pin come out on an SV when a bunch of us went through France a few years back. None of us  had a spare...

They can slide up a little and just get pushed back down when you remember. If you don't, I think they rise up even more and can eventually leave...

I wonder whether the nylon buses expand more than the brass or get soft (or both) in hot weather and under higher speeds. The solution may be perhaps a dab of glue on the top part of the pin (so you can still take the doors off)?

Andy

[colindavies56]

Where the pin sticks out top of door,could you get a male circlip on.I know there's no groove,but it might work.or an anti rattle washer.

[Golf Juliet Tango]

I have experienced this phenomenon only once and that was because I had not done up the press stud one the bottom of the door. If the poppers are done up, I don't think you are likely to loose a door if these are done up.

[revilla]

@Golf Juliet Tango - I've experienced this and I don't have any poppers on the bottom of my doors ... is there something that other people have that I don't? Where are these poppers located?

[SM25T]

Arm rest with central popper. Original design was a little strap instead of the arm rest.

[revilla]

Ah yes. I'm familiar with the strap. I didn't realise that was what was being referred to. Thanks.

[rjnewman]

Have had the doors fly off a couple of times. Usually on windy track days when the wind angle catches them  

What I have done is put a small tie wrap on the hinge so the door won't slide up  will post a picture at the weekend if that's helps  

Hope that helps

Richard

 

 

 

[SM25T]

Never suffered this on our SV ..... despite speeds over 100 on overseas unrestricted roads.

[JNC]

I think if you fit the arm rest instead of the single strap this will fix the problem. When the arm rest is clipped in place it will be impossible for the side screens to gape or lift.

[andy_h]

I lost a passenger door on a motorway on way to Le Mans.

clip came off, flap went up, I noticed..... door lifted off as soon as flap when up (became a wing).

I went back for it but had been run over a few times first :(

 

 

 

[Tony Whitley]

A previous owner seems to have the problem on my car and fitted Pozi machine screws in place of the brass hinge pins.  The only time it's happened to me was in a very strong side wind.