2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission How do you remove inside door panels?

[TomGolden]

Hi all,



I would like to remove the inside door panels on both my main and quad cab doors, so that I can add sound proofing to the

doors. I tried to take off the panel from the drivers side quad cab door last weekend, and was only able to get the clips on the top

half of the door to un-hook.



Anyone else ever removed your panels? I know you guys with after market stereos had to have done this to replace your

speakers...



Thanks in advance



Tom

 

[RustyJC]

The door panels on my 2002 use the plastic "pine tree"-type clips. My friendly stealer gets something over $1 each for these.



When installing my PowerVisions, I had to pull both main door panels. At NAPA I found a panel puller that looks like a nail bar - flat and chisel-shaped on the end to get under the door panel but with a V-notch on the flat part to get on either side of the pine tree clip. Even using this puller, I broke some of the pine tree clips - fortunately, NAPA had these as well for much less than DC prices.



I'd have a dozen or so (minimum) of these clips on hand if I were going to pull the front door panels - more if I were doing the quad doors. YMMV.



Rusty

 

[Dane]

What Rusty said...

I used a door panel puller and still broke about 5 per door

 

[metal tech]

On the Quad doors, you need to unscrew the door handle also.



Al

 

[Berrigan]

I did it without tools. Remove door handle and handle insert.

Start at the bottom of the door. Insert 2 or 3 small straight blade screwdrivers between the metal door and the plasic door panel. Shine a flashlight in there and you will see the white clips. The first one is the hardest. Pull and pry the first one straight away from the metal door. After that you can get your fingers in there and slide over to the next one. Yank hard and fast and it will pop out. Keep going till all are out. I think the clips are supposed to be one time use items but I didnt break any of them and reused all.



When reinstalling slide the top part of the clip in the door panel and using the flashlight align the bottom pert of the clip with the hole in the door. Then whack the panel with the palm of your hand. Thats what worked for me.



( this is the Okie method, Texans will usually substitute a 40lb pry bar for the screwdrivers, the rest of the 48 states should follow the procedure in the service manual)

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by Berrigan

Shine a flashlight in there and you will see the white clips.

Hmmm... . the clips in mine were yellow. Could yours be a different beast, or maybe DC just cheapened them up along with the other 2002 model year stuff. That's probably why some of mine broke!



Rusty

 

[cmckinney]

Pulled my driver side door panel off with out breaking the yellow clips. Just a good yank at where you think the clips are and they will come out.



-CM

 

[TomGolden]

hmmm... Well, as I said, I could only manage to get the clips in the top half of the rear door out, and they were METAL! I shined my flashlight inbetween the panel and the metal of the door everywhere I could, and I just couldn't even see any others, though I know there are more that hold the borrom part of the panel to the door... ... .

 

[Berrigan]

Originally posted by TomGolden

hmmm... Well, as I said, I could only manage to get the clips in the top half of the rear door out, and they were METAL! I shined my flashlight inbetween the panel and the metal of the door everywhere I could, and I just couldn't even see any others, though I know there are more that hold the borrom part of the panel to the door... ... .

Metal?



Tom ill check my manual tonight and see if I can get any more info for you Bill

 

[krs]

There are five 'christmas tree' in the lower portion of the rear door in addition to the three spring clips in the upper rear of it. You should also find three more 'trees on the handle (forward) portion of the rear doors beginning adjacent and just behind the latch handle.



I pop them with a carpenter's flat bar by sliding along the crack until I hit one then giving it a quick pry. Newer ones like yours can often be reused by carefully bending their little plate branches back downward. They'll look bad but hold well. One time is all to hope for though.

 

[Bob4x4]

The door panel retainers have changed over the years,some of the early versions were stronger than the door panel. 13 is the lucky number required on most 2nd gen trucks be careful not to break the door panel if you just yank on it.



Bob

 

[jrobinson2]

"A little over a buck"? The dealer got me $27 for 10 I found them later at auto zone $1. 79 for 2, when I tried the auto zone ones they all broke when I installed the panel Then I tried the dealer ones and found he had given me 10 and the door needed 12 Luckily I had a few ford clips in my tool box as I am 70 miles from the nearest parts store. The worst part was it was my fault I had to take the dang panel off to start with.

Jared

 

[Berrigan]

Tom



KSHINE is correct. I checked the service manual last night.



Good luck

 

[TomGolden]

Many thanks all, will be trying again this weekend. If mother Nature cooperates... .

 

[harleebkr]

Originally posted by Bob4x4

The door panel retainers have changed over the years,some of the early versions were stronger than the door panel. 13 is the lucky number required on most 2nd gen trucks be careful not to break the door panel if you just yank on it.



Bob

Bob is right- broke the panel plastic in 3 places where the clip slots are-lucky it doesn't rattle now-still don't have sound to the driver door speaker after all that-just hate to go to the stealer for tunes.



_______________________

99 2500 QC 4X4 SLT+ LB 172k miles and counting

 

[The patriot]

I wouldnt mess with it unless it was warm out. Plastic might break.

If you have an auto body outlet place, I'm sure you coulf get them for . 20 each. Theyre the same clips used on doors since the 1930's.

Eric

 

[JohnE]

I ordered a bag of 50 pieces from Elliott Distributing for $10. 87 plus shipping. Item no. 19213

www.elliottdist.com

 

[TomGolden]

Thanks JohnE



I got the passengers side quad cab door panel off today, added some GSI super foam to the door. I was lucky enough not to destroy any of the "pine tree" plastic clips, so I was able to reuse them all. I ran out of super foam, so will need to order more next week, as well as a bag of those clips.



Tom

 

[wlowe]

JohnE, were those christmas tree clips you got from Elliott Distributing the same as the OEM clips or are they just similar. If they are not the same as OEM, how well did they hold. Thanks for the info.



Bill

 

[JohnE]

... were those christmas tree clips you got from Elliott Distributing the same as the OEM clips or are they just similar.

Exactly the same and hold well. I thought a bag of 50 was overkill, but it is amazing how fast you can consume them.



I'm planning to upgrade the door speakers this summer. I'll be back in the bag again... ...



- John