1957 Fairlane Driver's Side Door Latch

[oldave57]

Unfortunately, that's just the way these old latches work (where you cannot lock the door prior to closing it).  The final door must be locked with the key.  Sometimes these latches get pretty stiff and don't like to be locked with the key, requiring disassembly and lubing (or at least removing the interior panels to get access to the latch mechanism for a lubricant).  I'm not sure if this was a design intent (so you don't lock the keys in the car) but you have to lock the last closed door with a key.

[RICH MUISE]

Just keep looking everywhere. It took me 4 years to find a NOS driver's side latch. The passenger side not so bad. Nobody rebuilds them that I'm aware of. It's usually the hole in the cover over the starwheel that wears out. Yours is probably agg-shaped.
Does your latch click on TWO teeth when it closes? you should be able to push the door in very easy until the first tooth catches. At that point, the door will be loose, and maybe 1/2" or so from being flush and tight.

NEVER MIND....I just reread your post. All '57 Fords have to be locked with the key. You cannot push the lock button down and then close the door.
Pat Fleishman did an article on how to change that with a mod to the latch, but honestly, most of us don't want to do that because it's too easy to lock your keys in the car.

welcome to the forum!!

[abe_lugo]

Wait.  I thought rear doors latches 4 door and station wagons don't need the key.  I'm fairly certain as I put 4door latch on my car as the star wheel what toast.  Btw if you keep a search for latches on eBay. You might get lucky.  I saw a few nos one for 40/50 dollar each in the last year and it was a buy it now. Crazy cheap. 

[Soleger24]

The issue is that even when I lock it with a key I can press the button on the outside handle and it unlocked. Nothing keeps the lock locked so something is wrong for sure. I think it's the latch with the star teeth on it but it's hard to find a reasonable replacement.

If anyone else has had this issue and knows the solution that would be amazing.

Thank you all. Happy to be here.

[djfordmanjack]

the locks actuate small levers, which are made from potmetal or such. They are known to be prone to fail, break, or fall down inside the door. You must be aware of that there are LH and RH and they are not interchangeable.
I think that is your actual problem. the key lock does not block the actual latch mechanism if said potmetal parts are damaged or missing. I will try to dig out some pics.

[djfordmanjack]

This is the piece you want to check out. drivers side. I can't remember exactly, but this must be the old broken one, that was laying inside the door. the little spring somehow connects it to the (key) door lock.

[djfordmanjack]

I found more detailed pics. It is obvious, how Ford engineers designed that little potmetal claw with a predetermined breaking point. the little part that goes into the lock cylinder ( which is actually broken off and missing on the old piece in the pic above).
hope this helps.

[Soleger24]

So you don't think it's the latch? The latch has some serious play to it. Also where can I find a piece like that to fix it?  Seems like it's going to be a mission to find that. Thank you for the input.

[lalessi1]

Welcome the forum! My Custom will not stay locked on the passenger door but it does on the drivers side. I may have a latch for the driver side  but it will need to be repaired, if you want it and I can find it, it is yours for the asking.

[RICH MUISE]

The issue is that even when I lock it with a key I can press the button on the outside handle and it unlocked. Nothing keeps the lock locked so something is wrong for sure. I think it's the latch with the star teeth on it but it's hard to find a reasonable replacement.

If anyone else has had this issue and knows the solution that would be amazing.

Thank you all. Happy to be here.

This indicates a different problem than what we first thought, and DJ is correct, the little "fingers thingy" is more than likely your problem. Very common issue, and at one time somebody was repoping them, but not cast. The repops, if you can find them, were a welded/machined piece probably much stronger then the die cast OEM.
Be aware there were at least two lengths of those fingers available. I believe the country squires requires a longer set.  At one time, I found a set that was actually shorter than my Custom's. That was an easy fix though using a common home plumbing part.

[Soleger24]

Thank you all for the info. I found a few online actually. The question is does it need the spring shown? I found them but with no spring. They are inexpensive so I don't mind buying and trying.

The other thing I had noticed the play in the Star shaped latch has a ton of play in it. So it can move a couple clicks if locked or not and the other side (passenger side) has no play in it.

[djfordmanjack]

you may as well have 2 different problems at the same time. It would probably best to pull the door card and check the little lock claw first. and find a decent latch mechanism as well. I think Abe suggested, that a drivers side rear door latch off a 4dr may work as well, without having the non self locking function (without key).

That little spring is just to hold the finger claw thingy whatever it is called to the lock cylinder. you can probably replace it with a generic spring  from a typical universal spring set that you can find at home improvement, hardware or automotive stores.

Rich, you may be right that the Country Squire has longer lock 'claws' or such, because of the faux wood trim, but I don't think so. I think there is a recess in the wood trim for the door lock.
I know for certain, that the drivers and passgr 'claws' are different, so that may be the main reason for the difference in length. or maybe they were just mirror image versions.