Ya, I know, this thread is over a year old...

The next mod I do on my 4Runner needs to be family-friendly. I get some serious grief on these doors closing on my wife and girl's legs, and I want to do something about it, finally. Ideally not spending 200-400 bucks...

Anyone have an old one of these door checks lying around? Really curious how it might compare dimension-wise to this, or something comparable. If like other things I've tinkered with in the past, I'm guessing that there are other viable options out there...

At 11 bucks, that would really nice.

https://smile.amazon.com/FOLCONROAD-...gateway&sr=8-1

I need to do the same repair myself. Wife has complained about the door not staying open, and quite frankly it's bothering me as well. She has a 2012 Highlander, and I'm wondering...Since it's a heavier door, if the dimensions match, it might be a good mod over the original one. I'll have to find the time and the desire to tear both cars apart.

Please investigate this idea of swapping in a Highlander or other part that might do a better job.
The holding power of the original Toyota design is so shamefully feeble that if a Dorman unit turned out to be better, I'd believe it!

I was just thinking about @4Runner4Leon and his High-Lift Hood Strut Kit: There is most likely a way to incorporate a small gas support to function for door check. ☺

This is especially annoying to me, as my other Toyota is 10 years older and works MUCH better.... I have a feeling something could be swapped in from another vehicle. Of course, I have no urge to do this now that I have good working door checks.

-Charlie

If Charlie feels the same way, then I think we are onto something...

I trust that you are referring to your '89 Camry. If so, that one looks like:



On those designs, if/when they fail, I recall an an easy and lasting fix is to simply insert something into or around the black rubber/plastic piece on the left, which makes it grab the arm tighter...

I get the impression we cannot open ours up. Some have tabs on them, and once pried open, I wonder if we can slid something into there to accomplish the same, or create our own rubber-like piece that squeezes tighter...

Here's a generic one open and the aforementioned tabs pulled back:



Again, if anyone has an old 3rd gen stop, please share some detailed photos. If you'd be willing to sell, let me know...

With various commitments, I cannot do any wrenching, probably until early October. Stuff like this is different, as much of the "work" is research and stuff like this (talking aloud)... so at least I can do something productive and the family would totally be supportive of such a fix too.

That's exactly it. The plastic arm on the 4Runner wears out (gets thinner and smoother) with time. The metal arm doesn't. Interesting idea to shim it, too. That wouldn't work if the arm doesn't have the correct contour any more though.

-Charlie

It's the bogie man lol

I'll have mine in the garage, no wind , flat surface, and boom it closes. It's possessed. Those spiritual forces are what keep the engine moving forever...don't get rid of them

Thanks for the shout out, but I think this challenge is above my head. I splurged and bought new door checks, and have been happy ever since .

For 46 bucks, free shipping, thinking of getting this for my wife's door.

https://www.ebay.com/i/192686240876?...SABEgLZlPD_BwE

I'll then have the old one to do some experimenting, take measurements, etc...

Looks like a good deal! Hopefully you can figure out why our door checks wear out so quickly and if we can do something to save them.

I guess relative to dealership pricing, it's half price, so a good deal....

Compared to other door stays/checks/stops, still not cheap though. I'm not keen on simply replacing an item that is seemingly inferior. I've heard several accounts that ours suck and fail much sooner than others.

Charlie said that our arms are plastic. I'd like to find a viable option that is metal. So, I'm reluctant to buy that "genuine" one on eBay.

Looks like the 4th gen might have plastic swing arms too.

Door check?

Posted a few questions on Amazon if the swing arms are metal or plastic and the distance between the mounting holes...

Feedback received is that the distance between the mounting holes onto the door is 5.2 cm, or about 2". Actually, the guy said 5.2 mm, but that can't be right...

A check on ours shows them at 2 inches of separation. Also, I heard that these swing arms are metal, all metal.

That said, I just checked my 2000, and my arms are metal (magnet stuck). Charlie, I can't imagine your '99 is different. Maybe plastic coated? If so, that would suck.

Mine on my 98 are plastic coated.

I've got a parts rig in the backyard, you can have the door checks off all 4 for just shipping cost (or whichever ones you want if not all 4). My driver's side door check also sucks, the passenger's side one isn't great either so I'd love to see your little experiment work out.

Appreciate you checking Jerod. The minute or so I had looking at mine, I sensed they are plastic-coated... With that, I'm not so keen on making these work better, possibly.

I really appreciate your offer and would gladly cover shipping of one or all four. Would you mind first posting some images here? Curious if there are tabs on the case that I can crack open, rivets or the like.

Thanks again.