Door striker on a 2003 XKR

[FrankC]

This is the part I am talking about on the B Pillar. The striker bottom left.



I wish to rehang the door so would like to remove the striker to ensure I get the fit right without the striker lifting the door into its proper position. The striker is held in place by two torx screws. They are loose so I can adjust the striker.

My question is this ... Can I remove those two screws and remove the striker without something behind those screws disappearing into the depths of the bodywork? Are there some sort of captive nuts behind there?

Thanks!

[mike020150]

Hi Frank,
I'm not sure there is much adjustment there. Unlike older Jaguars, the XK8 was built to much tighter tolerances. Hence, if there's hinge wear/door drop, it will probably be necessary to change/repair the hinges. Mike.

[FrankC]

Thanks for the reply.

I had the door off earlier this year. Repaired the hinges and re-hung the door. It fitted lovely.

However I now feel the door has dropped again. I cannot be sure as when the door closes it may ride into its final position on hitting the striker. The only way to be sure the door is aligned properly is to remove the striker and see how it aligns when the door is shut. Hence the question.

This is the damaged that needed to be fixed.

[mike020150]

As you've shown in the parts diagram, no separate keeper plate for the striker is listed by Jaguar so it's highly likely the striker bolts into genuinely captive nuts. You could test that assumption by removing the upper bolt, inserting something like a suitably sized nail with a large flat head before carefully releasing the lower bolt. If there is a loose captive plate, placing a couple of blobs of blu tack on the nail heads to retain them in position would allow you to check the door alignment. Heath Robinson it may be but if needs must... Mike.

[FrankC]

Thanks Mike.

I had a reply off a scrap dealer on one of the other forums I belong to. He tells me the plate is held captive in a frame to I can safely remove the Torx bolts without fear of it disappearing down the B pillar!

Thanks for the replies.