2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Door Panels

[EBottema]

Hey guys-



I just took my door panel off for the first time today. What a major Pita. What is the trick to getting these ones off? I even broke one of the mounting clips off on accident





Anyways, I will be undercoating the inside of my door, should I just rip that plastic barrier off or leave it in there? I'm not sure, i was thinking out coating it with some brown bread (dynamat)



What do you guys suggest?



erik

 

[MartyK]

Hi,

I agree the door panels on my '96 were a pain also.

I was thinking of doing the same on my new truck instead of having some rustproof company drill holes in my door and spray the backs of my speakers. I'm looking at the por15 products, but I do not have any personal experience with them.

I left the plastic on my doors, I think it helps keep the draft out of the cab.

 

[redram]

Leave the plastic. It seals the dust and moisture out from the interior of the truck.

Real important in the Gulf Coast, I guess you could get away with it most of the time in So. Cal.



I use a long needle nose pilers to pinch and pop out the plastic tabs from the metal door. You're right, you can easily break the retainer or the molded plastic of the door panel if you force it.



Repair Manual suggests this order.

Remove the two screws in the door handle.

Remove the screw and remote mirror control if so equipped.

Remove the power window and door lock panel (it's held in with metal clips that can be pinched with a small flat blade screw driver)

Pop loose the bottom retention plastic clips (I usually start at one lower corner)

There are also a couple of those retention plastic clips on the sides



Then, once it is loose, slide the panel slightly forward and upward to clear the door lock and door handle mechanism and also freeing the window felt edge.



It's not hard once you do this a few times. I think I can get mine off in less than a couple of minutes.



Cheers and good luck.



PS - I added Dynamat that was left over from doing the interior floor and back wall of my SLT Ext Cab.

 

[Jschafer]

You can get a fork made for door panels at your auto parts store

keep the plastic on and tape up any holes you may put in it, the plastic is the only thing keeping out side air out of your cab.

 

[wlowe]

It's very hard to remove the door panels without destroying some of the christmas tree clips that hold it on. The dealer wants a couple of bucks each for them. The exact same fasteners from Elliott Distributing cost eleven dollars plus shipping for a box of fifty. Part #19213.



www.elliottdist.com



Good Luck,

Bill

 

[budctdca]

the plastic clips are hard to get off, but you can go to a well stocked NAPA store and get a trim panel remover which works well, i suggest getting replacement fasteners (also available at NAPA)for the ones that break or are worn out, if you break a tab, use some epoxy to put it back on. the plastic is extremely important in my mind, because if you leave it off, wind and noise will get through, which is really annoying. you can make your own by laying some heavy plastic under the removed door panel and tracing the shape and cuting the plastic. use some 3M General trim adhesive (clear) to put on the new plastic ( as the old one will probably rip) back on the door, just be sure to let it tack up, then you will be good to go. I just fixed my door latch yesterday so i used this method and it worked great. good luck