Write-Up: Interior Door Panel Removal

My door panel was busted up at a couple attachment points too - probably happened when the windows were being tinted. Just another example of why you should do everything you're capable of doing yourself, and when you have to get work done by someone else, do as much of the prep work as you can (I pull the center caps before letting a mechanic mess with the wheels). They really don't care about your car at all.

I thought I might be able to fix those areas with a little JB Weld. It wouldn't stick well enough to the plastic though. Maybe I could drill holes for pins through it. I succeeded in fixing a few plastic parts that way.

Are the tabs you're talking about molded onto the door? I don't know of anything that will bond plastic parts together well enough to take stress.

Need to invest in a cheap plastic welder from Harbor Freight or someone like that.
I've used a friends to plastic weld some broken pieces on my door. Works well with ABS and other plastics.

I had a Volvo with a similar problem - it was a common problem - and a company made up little plates of stainless steel that you screwed onto the door panel with itty bitty wood screws to repair the hooks.

Maybe you could fab such a thing yourself with a shassis nibbler and some time on your hands? I imagine it'd look like a big picture hanger. sort of. You'd need one replacing each busted hook.

In the meantime here is that plastic welder. HF sells the rods, too...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41592


Albertj

i used plastic epoxy on those black L shaped tabs holding the door panel on. so far none have broken off again. it seems to be a common problem as the car ages and the plastic becomes brittle.

All great ideas. Thanks guys!!!