How do I get my door panels off?
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis IN
How do I get my door panels off?
This is driving me nuts. I've found the screws on the door and the pull handle and have removed them. The last thing that seems to be holding the door panel on is the rotary door lock. How do you get this little pain in my **** off?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: South San Francisco CA
Re: How do I get my door panels off? (OREO Speedwagon)
There is a C clip on that little piece. You can get a small flat blade screwdriver behind the closed end of the clip and pry just a bit and it will slide back about 1/8" and the **** will come off. Take your time.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Re: How do I get my door panels off? (OREO Speedwagon)
Yeah, there's a little C-clip holding the lock **** on. There is a tool you can get at any auto parts store that makes taking this off a breeze. I think it's just called a door **** removal tool. $5, tops. Or, if you are the daring sort, you can use a small flat-blade screwdriver to reach behind and pop out the top of the clip. Guaranteed you'll scratch your paint off the bezel or dig a hole in your panel... Get the removal tool - you won't regret it!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,715
Likes: 1
From: VASS, NC, USA
Re: How do I get my door panels off? (emsrescu)
It is a c clip. It takes a special tool to get behind the ****. Go to any autozone/auto parts store. There is a universal tool, thats flat, and has a cutout that slides between the **** and door and punches the clip out. NOTE: You have to finagle the tool some to get to the opening part of the clip to push it off
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: Rolla MO
Re: How do I get my door panels off?
A tip on putting it back on - don't use the tool - put the c-clip all the way on
the lock ****. Then simply push the lock **** on until you hear the c-clip snap
into the groove. Same goes for the window crank. That's a lot easier than putting
the **** on first and then trying to convince the c-clip that it should go
back into the right place using the tool.
the lock ****. Then simply push the lock **** on until you hear the c-clip snap
into the groove. Same goes for the window crank. That's a lot easier than putting
the **** on first and then trying to convince the c-clip that it should go
back into the right place using the tool.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,663
Likes: 139
From: Vail AZ
About 25 years ago I took a torch to the end of an el-cheapo small flat-bladed screwdriver then bent a hook into it. I've used it ever since, and as recently as three days ago, to pull these little clips. One of my better investments.
Tom
Tom
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 4
From: Northern NJ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Except I even went a cheaper route. Took a 12" piece of coat hanger, flattened one end in the vise, bent it around into a hook, couple of taps on the bench grinder to remove any sharp edges, looped the other end around to form an "adjustable" handle and volia, clip removal tool. Has served me well over the years, removing quite a few clips along the way.
And to put them back on, use the previously stated method of reinstalling them onto the window crank or whatever and just snapping it back into place.
Good Luck!
