A Door Panel Arm Rest Solution....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 19
From: Carson City, NV
A Door Panel Arm Rest Solution....
If this is old news, I apologize but I think I've discovered a possible solution to our door panel arm rest problem where the upholstery is pulling up from the surface of the door panel arm rest. Mine is a 1998 and both doors are now exhibiting this problem as shown in photo 1.
Remove door panel by following instructions from Vette Essential's website:
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...or_handle.html
View of backside of door panel - photo 2
Carefully remove the styrofoam and this is what you have:
Notice all those little holes in the door panel. These are used in the plastic injection molding process. These holes go all the way through.
This is where I stopped tonight. But next I'll pick up a tube of 3M upholstery adhesive from PepBoys and inject into these holes starting at one end and working my way across while using a hair dryer to heat up and stretch the upholstery so it will lay down against the door panel. This is probably going to be a bit time consuming, but hopefully worthwhile. I'll post up my results soon. (Stores were closed on Easter)
Cheers
John
Remove door panel by following instructions from Vette Essential's website:
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...or_handle.html
View of backside of door panel - photo 2
Carefully remove the styrofoam and this is what you have:
Notice all those little holes in the door panel. These are used in the plastic injection molding process. These holes go all the way through.
This is where I stopped tonight. But next I'll pick up a tube of 3M upholstery adhesive from PepBoys and inject into these holes starting at one end and working my way across while using a hair dryer to heat up and stretch the upholstery so it will lay down against the door panel. This is probably going to be a bit time consuming, but hopefully worthwhile. I'll post up my results soon. (Stores were closed on Easter)
Cheers
John
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
I have considered something like this but did not know there were already holes there. I am concerned there may be degraded foam between the vinyl door covering and the plastic panel. Has anyone ever torn a panel apart to see what is back there. If the space is clean, the gluing method suggested above should work.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Apopka FL
My '99 Coupe has the same problem and I think the heat here in Florida is the reason for the glue letting go.
I'll just bet you could inject some adhesive into the holes, spreading it evenly is the problem. The holes in the back of the panel are probably so they can apply vacuum to the panel after inserting it into a bag to form the vinyl to the shape of the backing.
I'll just bet you could inject some adhesive into the holes, spreading it evenly is the problem. The holes in the back of the panel are probably so they can apply vacuum to the panel after inserting it into a bag to form the vinyl to the shape of the backing.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 19
From: Carson City, NV
well, I gave it a try and got mixed results. I bought four different types of glue before finally settling on one. I don't think it really worked well and probably will not be a long-term solution. I guess the only thing is to replace the door panels eventually. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
There was a post some time ago where a padded armrest was purchased. The vinyl was probably cut and glued down and then the padded armrest covered the damage. The padded arm rest was obtained from a corvette accessories catalog - I saw the listing but forget which catalog.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
I can't find the post but I found the part. It is in the Eckler's catalog, part no. 44329 for a pair of black armrest cushions. The post did not give details of the repair - he said a shop did it.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Illinois
I hear those arm rests are just glued down so if the panel is lifted it will not work. Until I brought a set of good panels from a member, I was going to try to cut some plywood the dimension of the aftermarket panels. countersink 2 screw holes through them so you cannot feel them. Then buy vinyl fabric the color of the interior and fasten it over the plywood with the screws, take the door panels off and bolt them on the panels. This will stretch back the vinyl that lifted off the panel and you should get a perminent fix.
Last edited by robert123; Apr 19, 2007 at 08:48 AM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
I hear those arm rests are just glued down so if the panel is lifted it will not work. Until I brought a set of good panels from a member, I was going to try to cut some plywood the dimension of the aftermarket panels. countersink 2 screw holes through them so you cannot feel them. Then buy vinyl fabric the color of the interior and fasten it over the plywood with the screws, take the door panels off and bolt them on the panels. This will stretch back the vinyl that lifted off the panel and you should get a perminent fix.
Last edited by white90conv; Oct 16, 2007 at 12:40 AM. Reason: typo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 139
From: center of Kalifornia
This trim panel issue reminds me of the GM headliner that falls down on your head. Solution there was to replace the outer material then glue it to the old panel. The trim panel on the door is a different animal for the most part.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
Forget that glue crap, when my reflector plopped off, I just bought another one and plopped it right back in. Install time: 2 seconds. I'd replace my door panel too. The though of gluing something back together just seems so tacky to me. But, to each his own.
