Vertical Doors, Inc. Installation Tech Tips

Use these Vertical Doors, Inc. installation tech tips with the current instructions supplied with your genuine VDI kit. This page explains the installation checks that most often affect door alignment, hinge movement, wiring clearance, shock protection, lubrication, and long-term operation.

Start with the correct vehicle-specific instructions. Vehicles, kit revisions, mounting surfaces, brackets, wiring paths, and clearance requirements can differ. If this page, a video, or an older manual differs from the instructions supplied with your kit, use the supplied instructions and contact our team before continuing.

Essential VDI Tech Tip videos

These four Vertical Doors, Inc. videos explain installation checkpoints used across many VDI kits. Continue to follow the instructions supplied with the exact vehicle-specific kit.

Align the door with the factory striker and lock the adjustment

Return the door to its recorded factory latch-to-striker relationship. Do not move the factory striker merely to hide incorrect hinge alignment unless the vehicle-specific instructions require striker movement. The latch should meet the striker without lifting, dropping, slamming, or forcing the door.

Correct VDI door latch and factory striker alignment reference
Correct relationship: Restore the recorded factory alignment and confirm smooth latching.
VDI hinge adjustment reference for a door positioned too high at the striker
Door is too high: Follow the supplied adjustment sequence to lower the door until the latch meets the striker correctly.
VDI hinge adjustment reference for a door positioned too low at the striker
Door is too low: Follow the supplied adjustment sequence to raise the door until the latch meets the striker correctly.
Locking nut secured after adjusting a Vertical Doors, Inc. hinge
Lock the setting: Hold the adjustment screw in position and secure the locking nut as directed so the setting cannot loosen.

Cycle the door repeatedly after every meaningful adjustment. Recheck panel gaps, latch engagement, horizontal movement, vertical movement, wiring, shock, fender clearance, and locking hardware before reinstalling removed panels.

Checks before adjusting a VDI door conversion kit

  1. Keep the factory door supported and attached unless the instructions for your exact kit direct otherwise. Do not let the door hang from wiring, one loose hinge, or a partially installed shock.
  2. Confirm the correct kit and instructions. Match the vehicle year, make, model, body style, VDI part number, left- or right-side hinge, hardware, and shock.
  3. Record the factory door position. Photograph and measure the gaps and latch-to-striker relationship before loosening the factory hinges.
  4. Seat the VDI hinge on a flat mounting surface. Correct only the area identified in the vehicle-specific instructions. The hinge must not rock or bridge across a raised bracket, seam, or uneven apron surface.
  5. Check both hinge adjustments. Set horizontal alignment and vertical movement in the sequence supplied with the kit, then secure the locking hardware.
  6. Provide only the clearance required by the instructions. Many applications require trimming or rolling a non-visible inner-fender lip. Cut only enough for the swing arm and wiring to move freely, smooth the finished edge, and protect exposed metal.
  7. Do not reinstall the fender too early. First verify alignment, wiring clearance, fasteners, threadlocker, lubrication, and repeated door operation.

Mark the factory door location before removing the hinges

This is one of the most important parts of a VDI installation. Before loosening the factory hinges, mark the door position on the horizontal and vertical planes. Measure the distance between the body or apron and the front edge of the door near the upper and lower hinges. Photograph the panel gaps and the latch-to-striker relationship.

Painter's tape marking the factory door location before a VDI hinge installation
Use clear marks, measurements, photographs, protected spacers, and secure door support before removing factory hinge hardware.

Prepare the mounting surface and verify clearance

The VDI hinge must sit flat against the vehicle mounting surface. Some vehicles require an identified bracket, seam, or apron area to be modified before the hinge can sit flush. Do not grind, cut, hammer, or remove an unidentified structure based on a general video. Follow the exact photographs and directions supplied with your kit.

After the hinge is mounted, check the swing arm, adjustment hardware, shock, wire harness, wire boot, fender, door edge, and nearby trim through the complete outward, upward, downward, and closing movement. Correct interference before final assembly.

VDI shock installation and warranty protection

A VDI gas shock normally cannot be compressed by hand. Shock pressure depends on the vehicle application. The shock is designed to work after the correct hinge is mounted to the vehicle and the shock is installed in the specified orientation. Never improvise a compression method or clamp the shock body or shaft.

Grease, threadlocker, and shock warranty requirements

VDI shock and shoulder bolt grease and red threadlocker application points
  1. Grease the smooth body of the shoulder bolt.
  2. Apply red threadlocker to the shoulder-bolt threads.
  3. Grease the shock-end contact surfaces shown in the current instructions.
VDI warning against tools, paint, scratches, or foreign material on a gas shock body or shaft

Do not use pliers or other gripping tools on the shock body or shaft.

Do not scratch, paint, coat, or place foreign material on the shock body or shaft. Tool marks and surface contamination void applicable shock warranty coverage.

VDI hinge and shock-bearing maintenance

  • Hinge zerk fittings: Use a high-quality automotive or marine grease designed for a grease gun. Under normal conditions, service the fittings about once every one to two years. Outdoor exposure, contamination, climate, and use may require more frequent service.
  • Shock spherical bearing: Inspect and lubricate every three to six months or as needed. Use WD-40 or a similar cleaner/lubricant to flush dirt from the bearing area, cycle the door several times, then apply white lithium grease for longer-lasting lubrication.
  • After maintenance: Wipe away excess material and keep lubricant off the gas-shock body and shaft. Recheck the door through its complete movement.

WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease is one commonly available example. Follow the lubricant manufacturer’s directions and the current maintenance instructions for your kit.

What should I do if a zerk grease fitting is damaged?

Drive-type zerk grease fitting used on a Vertical Doors, Inc. hinge assembly

Some VDI hinge assemblies use press-in or drive-type grease fittings. These fittings can shear when a grease-gun coupler is pulled sideways. A lever-release coupler or needle-style attachment may reduce side loading during service.

Do not drill, tap, drive in a replacement, or push a broken fitting into the hinge until our team confirms the correct repair for the exact hinge and fitting location. Send clear photographs of the fitting, hinge, kit part number, vehicle, and proof of purchase so we can identify the appropriate part and procedure.

Ask VDI About a Damaged Grease Fitting

Vehicle-specific installation tips and videos

Use these resources only for the listed vehicle and procedure. They do not replace the current instructions supplied with the matching VDI kit.

2004-2008 Chrysler Crossfire washer-reservoir note

The windshield-washer reservoir may need to be modified or replaced with a smaller suitable reservoir to provide the required installation clearance. Confirm the exact requirement in the instructions supplied with the Crossfire kit.

Chrysler Crossfire windshield-washer reservoir clearance reference for a VDI installation
2003-2005 Hummer H2 clearance reference

Use the current Hummer H2 instructions to identify the exact cut and required finished clearance. Cut only the instructed area, smooth every edge, protect exposed metal, and verify full hinge movement before reassembly.

Hummer H2 VDI installation clearance reference, view 1 Hummer H2 VDI installation clearance reference, view 2 Hummer H2 VDI installation clearance reference, view 3

Get Vertical Doors, Inc. technical support

Before contacting us, gather the vehicle year, make, model, body style, VDI part number, proof of purchase, installation stage, clear photographs, and a short video showing the question through the complete door movement. This information helps our team identify the kit and understand the condition more quickly.

Reference notice: Tech tips, images, and videos are general or application-specific references. A vehicle may differ because of production changes, previous repairs, collision history, body modifications, aftermarket parts, or kit revisions. Use the current instructions supplied with the exact kit and stop to contact VDI when the vehicle does not match the documented procedure.

Return to the Main VDI Installation Guide