Door scraping inside edge on 2011 Via 25Q and axle leak info

[reckless37-WO]

Hi-

On a trip and suddenly when we open the main door it scrapes along the side edge until it's 1/3 open (the side with the hinge). I think it was caused by the door getting yanked open by a strong wind. So I suspect the hinges slipped inside (where I can't currently see). It doesn't seem obvious how to get in there.

Has anyone taken the door off or removed enough "stuff" to get to the hinges?

Also, I recently had one of the rear wheels leaking fluid. It was streaking out around the wheel. It turned out to be fluid from the differential. MB does not use a conventional seal but just uses something like RTV to seal it. I had a place that works on Sprinter Vans reseal it. It still leaked for a couple of days afterward, but I think it has stopped now. The metal cap where it leaks from is actually the axle and goes all the way to the differential and has a gear on the end that slides into the diff.

I was told we have what is called a full floating rear axle. It took the mechanic quite a while to get the axle off but didn't even have to jack the wheel up.

 

[reckless37-WO]

I was able to access the hinges by removing the trim next to the door. By measuring, I could tell the top hinge was bent out by 1/4" (so the top of the door was pulled in - which was quite visible on the outside). I hammered it back in some and the door is no longer scraping. However, it is still not completely aligned correctly. I may work on it more once I return home in a few weeks.

 

[Morich]

A homemade/crude way to "adjust" doors was by slamming them into 2X4 if you can find the right place to force things back to closer to correct!