Help - Arm rest reattach
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1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 1
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Help - Arm rest reattach
Friends - my driver side arm rest broke off on the left end. I ordered a c3 armrest repair kit but the instructions are too vague. Has. None had to reattach using the repair kit? If so please take md through the steps. Or if you can suggest an as alternative attachment method please do. Thanks in vance
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
And perhaps what car your working on? My C3 arm rest is a part of the door panel. I have a 77 model.
If your car is a 78 or newer. It's totally different.
If your car is a 78 or newer. It's totally different.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 614
Likes: 56
From: Dover, Delaware
Great post and even I did not know there was a difference between the 77 and my 78???
In any case I've had nothing but problems with my 78 since I've had it so now I just open and close mine with the window down
And if any one of the C3 gurus can shed some light on it pls reach back out
I do know that the upper handle bolt always pulls away from the door panel and that the panel has to be removed etc which at my tender age of 80 is beyond my capabilites "so there just has to be a better way to do a permanent fix"!!!
FWIW one of my club buddies said to try a longer-larger diameter screw????
JJ78
In any case I've had nothing but problems with my 78 since I've had it so now I just open and close mine with the window down
And if any one of the C3 gurus can shed some light on it pls reach back out
I do know that the upper handle bolt always pulls away from the door panel and that the panel has to be removed etc which at my tender age of 80 is beyond my capabilites "so there just has to be a better way to do a permanent fix"!!!
FWIW one of my club buddies said to try a longer-larger diameter screw????
JJ78
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,729
Likes: 2,579
Friends - my driver side arm rest broke off on the left end. I ordered a c3 armrest repair kit but the instructions are too vague. Has. None had to reattach using the repair kit? If so please take md through the steps. Or if you can suggest an as alternative attachment method please do. Thanks in vance
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
From your picture it looks like you are working on a 1980-81. In that case, the armrest repair kit consist of a metal sleeve, and a large and small screw. The kit is used to repair the front of the armrest, where it pulls away from the door panel. You slide the metal sleeve into the front screw hole of the armrest. The small screw goes into the bottom of front screw hole into a side hole of the sleeve to hold it in place. The large screw then goes thru the front hole of the armrest into the door panel. You reuse your existing screws to secure the back screw holes of the armrest into the door panel.
Last edited by mark79,80; Yesterday at 06:50 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,679
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From: Shamong, NJ
Mark79,80 pretty much nailed it.
I assume you have the kit that comes with three parts, a sleeve, a short screw and a long screw. To repair the armrest you insert the sleeve in the hole at the top of the armrest, screw the short screw through the hole in the side of the sleeve to secure the sleeve in the armrest and them reattach the top of the arm rest to the door using the long screw.
I might have a couple of the kits in stock that I think include instructions. I'll take a look in the morning and if they do have instructions, I'll post them here.
I assume you have the kit that comes with three parts, a sleeve, a short screw and a long screw. To repair the armrest you insert the sleeve in the hole at the top of the armrest, screw the short screw through the hole in the side of the sleeve to secure the sleeve in the armrest and them reattach the top of the arm rest to the door using the long screw.
I might have a couple of the kits in stock that I think include instructions. I'll take a look in the morning and if they do have instructions, I'll post them here.
Last edited by gbvette62; Yesterday at 07:53 PM. Reason: spelling mistake
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,135
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From: US-PNW
From your picture it looks like you are working on a 1980-81. In that case, the armrest repair kit consist of a metal sleeve, and a large and small screw. The kit is used to repair the front of the armrest, where it pulls away from the door panel. You slide the metal sleeve into the front screw hole of the armrest. The small screw goes into the bottom of front screw hole into a side hole of the sleeve to hold it in place. The large screw then goes thru the front hole of the armrest into the door panel. You reuse your existing screws to secure the back screw holes of the armrest into the door panel.
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