Removing door panels...any advice?
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
Removing door panels...any advice?
I will be replacing my sideview mirrors. Searched for a Tech Tip on getting into the door guts, but couldn't find one. Anyone have a writeup for changing mirrors? Do I need a special removal tool for the door panels?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
Here you go!
http://www.97vette.com/howto/mirror/index.html
You don't need a special tool for the door panels if you are the careful type. Me, I would go buy a special tool and I'm the over-careful type.
http://www.97vette.com/howto/mirror/index.html
You don't need a special tool for the door panels if you are the careful type. Me, I would go buy a special tool and I'm the over-careful type.
Last edited by Junkman2008; Jan 1, 2008 at 11:58 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 992
Likes: 3
From: Chesterfield Michigan
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
The doors are amazingly easy to remove. Take out the two srews under the small cover behind the arm rest/door pull. I think they are Torx-25 or something close to that. Then the whole panel will just pull out. There are a few plastic clips. Just start around the outides and carefully give a quick jerk at different places and the panel will come loose. At the top of the panel it kinda sits down on top of the actual door, so after you pull the panel free from the door, just lift up. Really easy.
I am the semi-careful type and I just jumped in to it the first time in the parking lot of the stereo shop one day while we were custom designing speaker mounts.
I am the semi-careful type and I just jumped in to it the first time in the parking lot of the stereo shop one day while we were custom designing speaker mounts.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 19,105
Likes: 2
From: Paducah KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Here's another link for removing door panels from Vette Essentials that might help....
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...or_handle.html
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...or_handle.html
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
Here's another link for removing door panels from Vette Essentials that might help....
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...or_handle.html
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...or_handle.html
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
Likes: 21
From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
I got the trim remover tool from the autoparts store and then wrapped the end with electrical tape to not mar anything I'm prying. The only thing you really have to be careful with is the friction fittings. Carefully pry each one with the tool, otherwise you might break the part that goes into the door.
If your car is parked outside where its cold or cold garage, I'd recommend bringing it into a warm garage, since the plastic breakable parts will be less brittle.
Removing the door handle trim is kinda tricky your first time, but once you see how its done, it's easy.
If your car is parked outside where its cold or cold garage, I'd recommend bringing it into a warm garage, since the plastic breakable parts will be less brittle.
Removing the door handle trim is kinda tricky your first time, but once you see how its done, it's easy.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '08
One tip from many years as a Car Stereo Installer.. BE GENTLE. IF you can get your hand near the clips try and pull them out straight instead of at an angle, this will ensure you don't break them. If you do break a couple its no big deal as long as most are intact.
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Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
Thanks guys, some great tips here and why didn't I think of checking the VE site on my own?
I'll post results when the mod is done.
I'll post results when the mod is done.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Especially on the BE GENTLE part. I tried the "quick pull" method and broke several of the clips, which really surprised me. I was able to epoxy them back on, but I would have preferred to avoid that little exercise...
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
Those clips aren't the replaceable ones that you can get at Auto Zone or some place similar?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
The "pockets" if you will, that are part of the inside of the door panel that hold it against the door frame via the plastic pins that are inserted into said door frame, are the real weak link, here. Just take it REAL SLOW and you should be fine.
