How do you replace 1999 Chevrolet Suburban rear door check strap?

Answer 1

Very easy process should take you less than 20 minutes. First buy a replacement check strap from your place of choice (GM Dealer, Ebay, or RockAuto.com.

Make sure you memorize or take a picture of the assembly as-is before you take it apart! Be certain you know the direction of the

Remove the Circlip.

Locate the "Circlip" (possibly called a C-Clip as well) that is seated horizontally in a slot/channel encircling the very bottom of the pin. Using a standard (slotted/non Philip's head) screw driver, push the screwdriver into one of the slots in the center of the circlip near the wall of the pin. Carefully (while maintaining upward pressure on the screwdriver) pull the clip back towards you. It might take a few tries, as the circlip has built in tension to keep it from sliding off, but with a little work you should be able to slide the clip out of its channel. Be sure to catch the pin and put it aside for now (don't lose it).

Remove the pin.

Using the same screw driver as above push the screw driver under the top head of the pin and the top framing. Carefully pull/pry the pin straight up. Once you get it lifted a bit you can either continue to pull the pin up utilizing the screw driver or grab a pair of pliers and remove the entire pin. If the pin is really stuck for some reason - if you can get it up enough to put an adjustable wrench or pliers underneath the head of the pin's lip you can gently hammer the wrench/pliers up, which should help in extracting the pin.

Once the pin is removed the check strap should come completely off.

Take the spring off the of the old check strap and then the plastic sleeve/washer. Now replace the sleeve/washer on the new check strap. Make sure you have the sleeve/washer and check strap oriented the same way as it came off.

Now you are ready to install the new check strap.

This can be just a little tricky as you will need to put the spring around the plastic sleeve and using a little pressure line up the hole in the sleeve with the top hole of the check strap framing. When you have those two holes line up you will then need to push the pin down though the top of the frame and through the sleeve and then through the bottom framing rail. You may need to lightly tap this in with a hammer and it may not be a bad idea to spray the whole thing down with a silicone lubricant to have the pin slide though everything easier. Also be careful not to damage the plastic sleeve while pushing the pin through.

Once you have the pin completely situated you will need to push the circlip back into place. I have found using a pair of needle nose pliers does this job pretty well, but if you are careful you can probably just use the screw driver to push it back on.