door panel repair
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: Bayville NJ
St. Jude Donor '10
door panel repair
I got a set of mod red door panels for a really good deal that i couldnt pass up. They are in great shape except for one thing. The material is coming off the panel a little bit right near the arm rest and right above the arm rest. You really cant tell by looking at it. But when you press it down, you can tell it is coming off the panel a little. Same problem on the passenger side. Like i said, they look good otherwise and i got them for a good deal, so i dont want to just throw in the towel and just buy a brand new set. Has anyone had this problem and does anyone know how to fix it? I would really like to do it myself and not pay for someone to do it. Thanks for any help
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Try drilling a few small holes from behind with a unibit or something that will prevent you from going through the upholstery and squirt some good adhesive in from behind. Goop is good adhesive, but you will have to put something on the upholstery to hold it down until it sets up. If you don't have a unibit, you can use a deep well socket to limit the depth of your bit. The step drill bits won't leave trash behind that will get stuck under your upholstery though.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
There have been a number of posts on this subject but I come up with nothing in search. I think the problem is there is a rubber of some type under the vinyl that breaks down, allowing the vinyl to separate from the rigid plastic panel underneath. One guy was going to try inserting adhesive from behind but I never heard that this was successful. The most effective fix is to buy some aftermarket armrests (sold by one of the aftermarket suppliers, I don't remember which one). You then cut the door vinyl, clean out the deteriorated stuff underneath, glue the vinyl back on the rigid plastic and finally glue the armrest on top to cover the cut. This appears to work but it alters the appearance of the door panel.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
I think 3M makes a spray adhesive that is used for things like headliners. If you can make a small hole, you can use the nozzle stick and spray it all around. It get's tacky fairly quickly and should do the trick.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
There is likely a foam under the vinyl that is breaking down. Similar to why a headliner falls, the foam behind breaks down. Something like silicone or Goop is the best solution. Rubbery and still flexible yet sticks pretty good.
I doubt the 3M spray will work. Tried that on a headliner before with no luck. When hot, the surfaces separated again.
Peter
I doubt the 3M spray will work. Tried that on a headliner before with no luck. When hot, the surfaces separated again.
Peter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Found the old post on door panel repair.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ght=panel+door
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ght=panel+door
