Half Door Latches Sticking

[MikenMel]

We have an '04 Sport with factory half doors. A few years back, we had to replace the driver's side latch as it stuck and we almost didn't get the door back open. After lubing it several times, it continued to stick. We eventually removed it and replaced it with a new unit which solved the problem. It appeared that with all the plastic parts wearing out inside of it, there was no way to simply lube or repair the assembly to get it to work again.

Fast forward a few years, and now the passenger side latch is getting difficult to open from the outside. The handle pull is rough and usually takes two pulls for the door to unlatch. If the door gets hot from the sun, it won't open at all. So I decided to just replace the latch assembly. Only problem is, the part (Mopar Part No. 55075982AE) is discontinued, and I am unable to locate any aftermarket replacements for a right side half door either (left door latches are apparently still available).

Short of going with a dubious used part, what are people doing to solve this problem?

 

[Tob]

Have you tried adjusting it?

 

[Dunkut88TJ]

have you removed the mechanism to give it a good look? A little grease and clean up will go a long way

 

[MikenMel]

Have you tried adjusting it?

I was able to get the handle itself to work smoother as the roll pin for the handle pivot point was working it's way out and I put it back where it belongs. So far as the actual latch assembly, it is lubed, but still binds when the door gets hot in direct sunlight.

 

[InOmaha]

Try here. I ordered 55075982AB and 55075983AB and they work fine.

www.moparpartsgiant.com

I also have a used driver side I would sell if you need that.

Don't over tighten them. Try backing out the bolts that hold them to the door 1/4 turn.

 

[MikenMel]

Try here. I ordered 55075982AB and 55075983AB and they work fine.

www.moparpartsgiant.com

I also have a used driver side I would sell if you need that.

Those parts still shows available. 55075982AE shows as discontinued.

 

[InOmaha]

I don't know what year the doors I have are, but the AB latches work fine with them on my 2006. I'm not sure what they changed throughout the years, but I've had no isses using these after lining up the doors.

I don't have locks because I can't source those as a complete set. With soft uppers do locks even matter?

 

[MikenMel]

I don't know what year the doors I have are, but the AB latches work fine with them on my 2006. I'm not sure what they changed throughout the years, but I've had no isses using these after lining up the doors.

I don't have locks because I can't source those as a complete set. With soft uppers do locks even matter?

It's an '04, so all the latches should work from '03 to '06. Are you saying that the AB latches will work/fit on an '04? I thought those were for the '97 to '02 doors.

 

[InOmaha]

Those say 97-02. But since I had no idea the age of the doors I bought, I gave them a try.

Maybe my doors are 97-02 and there are differences. I couldn't find any indication online of the differences between the TJ half doors by year after a ton of searching.

The mechanisms hooked up and work fine in my unknown year doors on a 2006. I think you can return them if they don't work.

I can look for a part number on the used one I found. If it's AE then I know both AB and AE work in the same door because I tried it in there. I ended up buying a new set just to have it all new at the same time and planned on keeping the used as a driver side spare.

 

[Tob]

I was able to get the handle itself to work smoother as the roll pin for the handle pivot point was working it's way out and I put it back where it belongs. So far as the actual latch assembly, it is lubed, but still binds when the door gets hot in direct sunlight.

I don't think you understand what I'm asking. The pushrods that the paddle connects to are adjustable. It can make the paddle hard to pull if it is too tight. try popping off the door card and messing with it.

 

[JoeSmith66]

Try here. I ordered 55075982AB and 55075983AB and they work fine.

www.moparpartsgiant.com

I also have a used driver side I would sell if you need that.

Don't over tighten them. Try backing out the bolts that hold them to the door 1/4 turn.

55075982AB is discontinued and 55075983AB reports "This part does not fit the vehicle you selected:"
Mopar 55075983ABFront Half Door Latch
2000-2002 Jeep Wrangler 55075983AB