Door Panel Repair
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 12
From: NW Indiana
Door Panel Repair
Looking for ideas....I finally got some door speakers installed and dug out my panels and it appears they must have come off the hard way. Some of the slots on the inside of the panel are broken or maimed on some way.
Has anyone done any sort of repair that lasted?
Has anyone done any sort of repair that lasted?
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 138
From: Northern California
Your gonna have to be creative... If your speaker grills are broke you might consider cutting them all out and replacing with something you could glue on. Paint and sanding will be required.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 12
From: NW Indiana
I mean the slots where the actual fasteners go...sorry
I was thinking about using epoxy to glue washer to the inside of what is remaining.
The side of the panel you see is still pretty nice.
I was thinking about using epoxy to glue washer to the inside of what is remaining.
The side of the panel you see is still pretty nice.
Tennessee Hillbilly
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: East TN
Rather than using a proper tool, most people just pull on the panel itself. That's why you see so many of them damaged like yours. The tabs were never meant to be strong enough for anything other than holding the panel onto the door. The tool for removing them goes against the clip itself and doesn't tweak or break the tab.
The epoxy might hold for a one time fix, but will break again when you try to remove the panel. Although I wouldn't do it, I've seen some that were held on by screws......BIG, UGLY screws.
I suppose if you got some TRIM screws, painted them to match, and carefully selected where you placed them, that would be an alternative. The other being new panels......
The epoxy might hold for a one time fix, but will break again when you try to remove the panel. Although I wouldn't do it, I've seen some that were held on by screws......BIG, UGLY screws.
I suppose if you got some TRIM screws, painted them to match, and carefully selected where you placed them, that would be an alternative. The other being new panels......
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,321
Likes: 13
From: Cave Spring Georgia
Grinn,
How about plastic welding? I am a member of a RV site and a guy used it to fix a crack in one of his holding tanks. Not this kit but something like it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/welding...c-welders.html
Just an idea.
How about plastic welding? I am a member of a RV site and a guy used it to fix a crack in one of his holding tanks. Not this kit but something like it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/welding...c-welders.html
Just an idea.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Green Bay, Wisconsin
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 685
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
There are even little plastic caps that snap over a special washer that is supplied with them and held in place by the screw itself, with that said i don't think you came this far with your truck to use screws in your door panels. This is one very important step, if you use the plastic door clips that many supply TEST FIT THEM FIRST!!! I bought new panels from Dennis Carpenter and used the supplied plastic clips and came very close to damaging my new panels both when attempting to install them and removal and i do have the removal tool.
TEST FIT THEM FIRST!!! now is the time to replace or trim them, I found most of the original metal ones and they worked fine! Well now what to do with your panels
you can't just epoxy the clips to the panel cause they need some wiggle room, Maybe you can find some find some plastic washers or cut some from a scrap panel remembering to be conservative with size of repair due to the dimples in te door a some locations or just call: Dennis Carpenter at 1-800-467-9653 Just think about it, if you have to color match anyway you can get off color panels made from original tooling for $100. for the pair, part #D3TZ-1023942-<ACRONYM title="Page Ranking"><ACRONYM title="Page Ranking">PR</ACRONYM></ACRONYM>.
TEST FIT THEM FIRST!!! now is the time to replace or trim them, I found most of the original metal ones and they worked fine! Well now what to do with your panels
you can't just epoxy the clips to the panel cause they need some wiggle room, Maybe you can find some find some plastic washers or cut some from a scrap panel remembering to be conservative with size of repair due to the dimples in te door a some locations or just call: Dennis Carpenter at 1-800-467-9653 Just think about it, if you have to color match anyway you can get off color panels made from original tooling for $100. for the pair, part #D3TZ-1023942-<ACRONYM title="Page Ranking"><ACRONYM title="Page Ranking">PR</ACRONYM></ACRONYM>. FTE Stories
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 1
From: Suburbs of Chicago
Can you tig weld? Then you can plastic weld.
I got some of the plastic door clips (I'll get the PN on them from NAPA, they work the best out of the 5 or 6 PN's that I tried) and then welded them to the door panel. My technique for welding includes a propane torch and a ziptie. Use the ziptie as your filler rod, and heat up the plastic with the propane torch. Weld the plastic clip to the panel, and voila, you're home free
I got some of the plastic door clips (I'll get the PN on them from NAPA, they work the best out of the 5 or 6 PN's that I tried) and then welded them to the door panel. My technique for welding includes a propane torch and a ziptie. Use the ziptie as your filler rod, and heat up the plastic with the propane torch. Weld the plastic clip to the panel, and voila, you're home free
Tennessee Hillbilly
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: East TN
There are even little plastic caps that snap over a special washer that is supplied with them and held in place by the screw itself, with that said i don't think you came this far with your truck to use screws in your door panels. This is one very important step, if you use the plastic door clips that many supply TEST FIT THEM FIRST!!! I bought new panels from Dennis Carpenter and used the supplied plastic clips and came very close to damaging my new panels both when attempting to install them and removal and i do have the removal tool.
TEST FIT THEM FIRST!!! now is the time to replace or trim them, I found most of the original metal ones and they worked fine! Well now what to do with your panels you can't just epoxy the clips to the panel cause they need some wiggle room, Maybe you can find some find some plastic washers or cut some from a scrap panel remembering to be conservative with size of repair due to the dimples in te door a some locations or just call: Dennis Carpenter at 1-800-467-9653 Just think about it, if you have to color match anyway you can get off color panels made from original tooling for $100. for the pair, part #D3TZ-1023942-<ACRONYM title="Page Ranking"><ACRONYM title="Page Ranking"><ACRONYM title="Page Ranking"><ACRONYM title="Page Ranking">PR</ACRONYM></ACRONYM></ACRONYM></ACRONYM>.
TEST FIT THEM FIRST!!! now is the time to replace or trim them, I found most of the original metal ones and they worked fine! Well now what to do with your panels
you can't just epoxy the clips to the panel cause they need some wiggle room, Maybe you can find some find some plastic washers or cut some from a scrap panel remembering to be conservative with size of repair due to the dimples in te door a some locations or just call: Dennis Carpenter at 1-800-467-9653 Just think about it, if you have to color match anyway you can get off color panels made from original tooling for $100. for the pair, part #D3TZ-1023942-<ACRONYM title="Page Ranking"><ACRONYM title="Page Ranking"><ACRONYM title="Page Ranking"><ACRONYM title="Page Ranking">PR</ACRONYM></ACRONYM></ACRONYM></ACRONYM>. Back side.....no slots
Front Side.....refurbished
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
From: Cape Coral, Florida
Good advice....also be aware that some panels have a slot in the tabs for the plastic clips and others that use the metal clips don't have the slots in the tabs. The ones I salvaged used the metal clips and did not have the slotted tabs.
Back side.....no slots
Front Side.....refurbished
Back side.....no slots
Front Side.....refurbished
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
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Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Other than figuring a good solid way to attach the plastic push in style retainers to the door panel backside, its screw placement time and I hate that time.
Maybe use some fancy upholstery button tops, or countersunk screws and washer set up?
Maybe use some fancy upholstery button tops, or countersunk screws and washer set up?
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 12
From: NW Indiana
With all due respect...there is no way I'm screwing them back on. I'll spend the $200 for the good one's first.
Mine are the solid holes so at the store today I grabbed some nylon washers and was going to try to install the clips first and then epoxy them in the broken spots. If I can just get it to work this time then I can always try something else later.
I am also contemplating 3M trim adhesive.
I think I'll try one of each and see which one sets up the best.
Thanks very much for all of the input guys. I really appreciate the ideas.
Mine are the solid holes so at the store today I grabbed some nylon washers and was going to try to install the clips first and then epoxy them in the broken spots. If I can just get it to work this time then I can always try something else later.
I am also contemplating 3M trim adhesive.
I think I'll try one of each and see which one sets up the best.
Thanks very much for all of the input guys. I really appreciate the ideas.